Parolee shot by cops faces felony charges

Authorities tonight charged a 38-year-old parolee who was shot by police Sunday morning with a number of felonies. The shooting was prompted when he pointed a handgun at officers during a traffic sto, according to police.

Demetrius Whitney, of the 6000 block of South Lafayette Avenue, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault to a police officer, one count of armed habitual criminal, one count of robbery, and one count of unlawful use of weapon by a felon, according to police.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Whitney -- who was hospitalized after the shooting -- would make a bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

Police said they pulled over Whitney's vehicle at about 1:45 a.m. in the 500 block of East 79th Street in the Chatham neighborhood after a license plate check revealed the vehicle was stolen.

Whitney struggled with officers after they ordered him out of the vehicle and discovered a handgun, police said. Whitney then fled on foot and, as the officers began to chase him, Whitney pointed the handgun in the direction of the officers, police said.

The officers opened fire, striking the man, police said. Officers recovered the handgun at the scene. None of the officers was hurt.

Whitney has been out on parole since last month for a 2007 burglary conviction, according to state records. He has at least nine prior felony convictions dating back to 1990 ranging from retail theft and armed robbery to aggravated battery to a police officer, records show.

If convicted under the armed habitual criminal charge alone, Whitney faces between six and 30 years in prison for carrying a handgun.