CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield County native was wounded while attempting to make an arrest during a daylight gang shootout Tuesday afternoon in a Southwest Baltimore neighborhood.
Mark Spila, plainclothes officer, was listed in “serious but critical condition,” yesterday at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to Cindy Rivers of the center’s public affairs office.
Spila underwent surgery later Tuesday, and according to Troy Harris, public information officer of the Baltimore City Police Department, came out well.
Harris said Spila had a broken femur in the upper portion of his leg and was uncertain when he’d return to work.
He said Spila was serving in the department’s southwest gang enforcement unit and patrolling the area at the time of the incident.
“(Spila) had pulled over a vehicle that was in violation of traffic,” Harris said. “He went to interview the passenger and recognized the male suspect as a gang member.”
Harris said the man exited the vehicle and engaged in a physical altercation with Spila before pulling a gun and shooting him in the thigh area. Spila returned fire and hit the man.
Harris said the suspect is listed in “critical condition” and being treated for his injuries. “Charges won’t be filed until he’s been cleared by the medical staff.”
Spila’s family could not be reached for comment but had a state police escort to the hospital.