(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County Police officer was shot three times at the hospital outside Michigan City this morning.

 

Deputy Jon Samuelson was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

 

During a news conference late this morning, Sheriff Ron Heeg said Samuelson was in critical condition.

“We’re asking the community to keep everyone affected in their thoughts and prayers while we work through the situation,” he said.

 

Samuelson is a 12 year member of the department.

 

According to police, Samuelson stopped to help who he thought was a disabled motorist in the area of Indiana 2 and 900 West near Westville.  At the driver’s request, police said Samuelson drove him to the hospital and left.  A few minutes later, the officer learned the man was a suspect in a crime that occurred at some point in the past.

 

Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Glen Fifield said Samuelson returned to the hospital where things became physical in the emergency room area before the suspect produced a gun and shot the officer.

 

“The suspect then fled the hospital on foot and into a wooded area west of the hospital,” he said.

 

Fifield said it wasn’t long before the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.  The suspect is 22 year old Sharod Grafton of Chicago, who will be held in the Porter County Jail to await the filing of charges due to the wounded officer being with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office.  

 

Police said they do not know right now why Grafton asked to be taken to the hospital.