Authorities say a 59-year-old man who called 911 asking for help shot at police officers as they arrived at his central Florida home.
Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez says officers John Schwarze and Benjamin Metz were injured in a gun battle that lasted about 15 minutes on Tuesday evening. He says ``by the grace of God'' the officers weren't killed. They were taken to the hospital Tuesday night for treatment.
Velasquez says the man, John Goepferich, was shot by police officers. His injuries were not life-threatening. Officers don't know why he started shooting.
Preliminary reports indicate Goepferich told dispatchers shots had been fired at his house. Some 50 police officers and Polk County Sheriff's deputies responded.
Goepferich faces multiple counts of attempted murder of law enforcement officers. It wasn't known whether he's hired an attorney.
