Guilty plea to shooting officer with Taser

KINGSTON, N.Y., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A New York teenager admitted to shooting a police officer in the head with the officer's stun gun during a street chase before the officer shot him in the leg.

Eric Pearson, 19, pleaded guilty in Ulster County, N.Y., Court to robbery and attempted aggravated assault on a police officer in the attack on Kingston, N.Y., police officer Michael Pedersen March 18, 2010, District Attorney Holley Carnright said.

Pearson, who pleaded guilty during jury selection Monday, is to be sentenced by Ulster County Judge Donald Williams March 22. He could face 12 years in prison, Mid-Hudson News Network reported.

Pearson grabbed Pedersen's stun gun on a Kingston city street as Pedersen tried to arrest him on a warrant for criminal attempt, authorities said. Pearson then ran off with the weapon, with Pedersen chasing him.

When Pedersen followed Pearson around a corner, the teen fired the stun gun at Pedersen's head, Carnright said.

One of the stun gun's two darts struck Pedersen in the head, Carnright said. The other missed him.

The officer was not seriously injured and shot Pearson in the thigh with his service revolver.

A grand jury found no evidence of wrongdoing by Pedersen, who joined the city police force in May 2008.