La Crosse officer shoots suspect during traffic stop

La Crosse police have confirmed that one of their officers is the one who shot a suspect at a traffic stop on Highway 16 Friday night.

Police say a sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle near the Viterbo University’s sports complex at about 9:20 p.m. Friday.

The vehicle belonged to a suspect from an earlier domestic incident.

That person apparently refused to cooperate with deputies and La Crosse police were called for help.

Police say the suspect charged officers and deputies, swinging some sort of weapon. The suspect was then shot, stopping the threat, according to police.

The name and the extent of the injuries of the suspect have not been released. Neither has the name of the officer involved.

The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state Department of Criminal Investigation will investigate the shooting.

Hwy. 16 between La Crosse and Gillette streets was closed for several hours after the shooting and opened up again shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday.