BAKERSFIELD, Calif. --
An officer with the Bakersfield Police Department accidentally shot himself in the hand after a traffic stop Tuesday.
Officers said that around 9 a.m., Officer David Pence stopped 35-year-old Larry Gene Norrod who was riding a motorcycle near the 4200 block of Coffee Road near WinCo Foods.
Pence said Norrod was riding on a suspended license and was wanted for a parole violation.
Norrod was arrested without incident and placed into the police car by Pence, Sgt. Mary DeGeare said.
Pence said he noticed that Norrod had dropped something on the ground.
Pence said he found the item on the ground near the bike and picked it up to inspect it.
The item was a zip gun which is capable of firing a 9 mm bullet.
When Pence picked up the gun, it fired, injuring his hand and causing powder burns on his face and hands, DeGeare said. Pence was treated at a local hospital, DeGeare said.
Norrod was arrested on charges of possession of an illegal weapon, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, felon in possession of a firearm, driving on a suspended license, expired registration, false display of registration tabs and parole violation warrant.
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