An officer was involved in a shooting Sunday night in downtown Orlando following a high-speed chase

Stream FOX 35 News

ORLANDO, FL. – According to the Orlando Police Department (OPD), a chase in downtown Orlando on Sunday evening led to an officer-involved shooting and the arrest of an inmate.

On October 27, OPD’s Parramore Bike Units responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of 55 West at approximately 10:56 p.m. The vehicle left the scene at high speed, ignoring officers’ commands, and began driving recklessly east on Sosnowa Street.

The driver ran a red light at the intersection of Pine Street and Orange Avenue and then collided with another vehicle at Pine Street and Court Avenue.

Despite the crash, the suspect continued driving toward Magnolia Avenue. At Pine Street and Magnolia Avenue, the driver accelerated toward officers, prompting one officer to fire at the vehicle.

The vehicle then struck the rear of a marked OPD cruiser before traveling north on Magnolia Avenue, ultimately crashing near Livingston Street.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Cliff Presley Garcia Francois, exited the vehicle and attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by officers. Authorities confirmed that Francois was not hit by the gunfire.

The officer involved in the shooting was not injured and was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will conduct an independent investigation, which will then be reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office. OPD will also conduct an internal investigation.

A convicted felon with 11 arrests, Francois has a lengthy criminal history, including charges of aggravated battery, home invasion, carjacking, kidnapping, and multiple counts of robbery, burglary and common larceny.