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Video: Driver Opens Fire On Officer During Traffic Stop

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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) -- A shootout during a traffic stop in Miami Gardens led to a suspect being hospitalized and an unscathed officer counting his blessings.

Gary Sprauve - Officer-Involved Shooting
Gary Sprauve, 37, was charged with attempted murder, accused of shooting at a Miami Gardens officer during a traffic stop. (Source: Miami-Dade Corrections)

It happened Sunday around 3:00 a.m. near 183rd Street and 12th Avenue.

The Miami Gardens officer's dash-cam footage shows the suspect, in a black four-door sedan, pull out a gun and open fire as the cop stood at the driver's side window.

Amazingly, the officer avoided a direct hit and fired back, just as the suspect took off.

That led to a police pursuit and ended at 191st Street and North Miami Avenue, where officers were able to stop the suspect with spike strips and take him into custody.

The officer's vehicle, a marked Miami Gardens Police Dept. SUV, was struck at least once on the passenger side.

The suspect, identified as Gary Sprauve, 37, was wounded from the gunfire.

"Somewhere during the traffic stop, the occupant of that vehicle discharged a firearm in the direction of the officer, striking his police car once," said Miami Gardens Police Chief Antonio Brooklen, noting that the suspect also had an additional firearm inside the vehicle and was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue treated him on the scene and he was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

CBS4 News was the only station there when Sprauve was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Sunday night. He was wearing a hospital gown and had his hand bandaged after a bullet struck him, according to police.

Police say Sprauve has a previous conviction for armed burglary in 2007. He faces charges for first degree attempted murder.

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