JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) – A suspect who was shot and wounded by a Joplin police officer has been charged with six felonies.

36-year-old John Blanton, of Webb City, has been charged with first-degree assault on law enforcement, armed criminal action, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. He remains hospitalized under police watch. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

Joplin police say the shooting happened Friday after an officer followed the driver of a vehicle that was believed to be stolen to an apartment complex. The driver then exited the truck and took off running, with the officer in pursuit. Police say the officer fired when the driver fell and raised a handgun.

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JASPER COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that hospitalized a stolen car suspect.

On Friday, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET) reported said observing a stolen vehicle at 1832 South Maiden Lane, Kum N Go, according to a media release.

They described the vehicle as a spray painted white Dodge Pickup and a Joplin Police Officer responded to the area.

The stolen vehicle left behind the store, drove west of Price Cutter and pulled southbound across 20th Street and into the neighborhoods to the south.

The Joplin Police Officer, driving a fully marked police car, got behind the vehicle. A moment later, the officer stated the vehicle was pulling into the north parking lot of Springview Gardens Apartments, at 22nd and McCoy.

The driver got out of the stolen truck and ran on foot southbound, down a corridor between apartments and into the courtyard of the complex. As the officer was chasing him, the suspect fell onto the ground and turned towards the officer. At the same time, the suspect then raised a handgun, pointing it at the officer. The officer fired at the suspect, striking him and stopping the threat.

Additional officers arrived on scene and immediately began providing the suspect medical attention until METS arrived. The suspect was then transported to Freeman Hospital and is being treated for what is described as non-life-threatening injuries.

The Joplin Police Department requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol respond to the scene to investigate the shooting.

The officer involved shooting is currently being investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. By policy, the Joplin Police Officer who fired his duty weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

The suspect in this case has been identified as John M. Blanton, 36, Webb City, Missouri.