Photo: Ryan Burns.

UPDATE, 10:41 a.m.: We mentioned below that there was a report of gunshots fired a few blocks away, at roughly the same time all went down.

A few moments ago, we caught up with Capt. Brian Stephens of the Eureka Police Department at the corner of Wabash and B streets, where the incident took place, and he confirmed that there had been gunshots at that location. He said that the driver of the Durango was definitely not suspected in the shooting, but that police are still working to determine if the two incidents were related.

Stephens said that there should be more information forthcoming on the shooting later today.

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UPDATE, 10:30 a.m.:

EPD Captain Steve Watson tweets that the driver was tasered and pepper sprayed before his arrest.

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Eureka’s B Street is closed just south of Buhne this morning, after police took one man into custody following what witnesses describe as an attempt to run over an officer.

Jeanne O’Neale, a witness to the event, tells the Outpost that she became aware that something was happening when she saw a police car rushing down B Street, crossing the intersection southbound. When she looked across the way, she saw that a Dodge Durango had smashed into a Toyota Prius on the side of the road.

When the officer approached the scene, O’Neale said, the driver of the Durango backed into the officer’s patrol vehicle and continued putting on the gas, ramming it backward. O’Neale said the officer, who was out of his vehicle, busted out the Durango’s driver-side window with his baton and got the suspect out of the car. 

Brittany Powell of the Eureka Police Department tells the Outpost that the incident began when the officer attempted to pull the driver over a few blocks away. The suspect was tasered at some point. He has been taken to the hospital.

“We’re lucky this wasn’t an officer-involved shooting,” said Police Chief Andy Mills at the scene.

Powell also said that several citizens have reported that shots were fired at about the same time a few blocks away. Police aware investigating whether the incidents are related.

We’ll update when we know more. Photos and video below.

Photos and video: Jeanne O’Neale.