The Battle Creek Police Department and multiple additional law enforcement agencies continue the search this morning after a shooting that injured BCPD Officer Jeffrey Johnson.
Police are looking for Andre Durrell Yarbrough as a person of interest in this incident. Yarbrough is a 30-year-old black man, who is 5’11” tall and 165 pounds. He has nine warrants out of Calhoun County, mainly for assaults and failure to appear.
Anyone with information on Yarbrough or this incident should call police at 269-781-0911 or Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.
At 1:16 a.m. today, officers were in the 300 block of Cherry Street when they heard children screaming from a house. The homeowner said everything was fine; however, officers identified Yarbrough and his vehicle at the house, and remained to monitor it.
At about 2:30 a.m., Johnson called out that Yarbrough was fleeing; within moments shots were fired by both Johnson and Yarbrough. No other officers fired. Police believe Yarbrough may be injured, and have no other reports of injuries at the scene.
Officers found Johnson on the ground by the garage. He was shot three times – on his left leg, left chest, and a graze to his wrist. Officers at the scene applied first aid, and a tourniquet to Johnson’s leg. Doctors believe this, and a bulletproof vest, saved Johnson’s life. A fellow officer took Johnson to Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, where he was stabilized. Johnson was taken by ambulance to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he was stable and in surgery late this morning.
A 9mm handgun was recovered near the garage at the scene. Police do not know if Yarbrough is currently armed.
The search for Yarbrough continues. Assisting the BCPD Emergency Response Team, K-9, drone, and other units are Michigan State Police Aviation, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Emmett Township Department of Public Safety, Marshall Police Department, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police Department.
BCPD Chief Jim Blocker said police believe Yarbrough remains in the area, and does not believe there is a danger to the community. He asked anyone with information to call police.
“If you know something, say something and call,” he said. “Air, water, land – we’re gonna look everywhere.”
The Michigan State Police will take over the officer involved shooting investigation.
Police continue to develop leads, and more information will be released as it becomes available.