Frank Emmitt Nance Allegedly Shoots Atlanta Police Officer Reggie Robinson In The Face

A 20-year-old Atlanta man with a laundry list of arrests under his belt allegedly shot an officer in the face Friday night, as the cop was investigating drug activity.

Frank Emmitt Nance was arrested shortly after a foot chase in which he allegedly shot 35-year-old Atlanta Police Officer Reggie Robinson, according to WSB-TV. Robinson was reportedly trying to question Nance while responding to a call of a drug sale. Nance fled, allegedly firing shots as he was running away, and one of the bullets struck Robinson in the face.

When fellow officers arrived, "[Robinson] was able to communicate to a degree with the responding officers, but a gunshot to the face is always serious," police spokesman Paul Guerrucci told the station.

More details on the shooting and subsequent arrest of Nance haven't yet been made available. A mugshot released by Atlanta police shows Nance's face bloodied and bruised, but the nature of his injuries remains unclear.

Robinson, who graduated from the police academy in November, is in stable condition and is expected to undergo surgery this weekend, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Guerrucci said that the suspect had a gun on him when he was found, as well as cocaine. Nance was charged with aggravated assault on an officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and cocaine possession.

Nance has been in and out of the Fulton County Jail over the past four years. His most recent arrest before this one was on a charge of assault and battery in April.

The Daily Mail reports that the police department will investigate all aspects of the incident, as with any officer-involved shooting, to see if correct procedures were followed.