Phone charger in deputy’s pocket stops bullet when man opens fire

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were shot and wounded by a suspect during a routine traffic stop early Tuesday morning -- and one was saved from serious harm by a cellphone charger in her pocket, authorities said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Mike Rosson told reporters at the scene that he’d heard of small objects blocking bullets before, “but something that small is nothing short of a miracle.”

Authorities told KTLA that it was the tip of the cellphone charger that blocked the bullet, which embedded in the device.

Both deputies were treated and released from local hospitals, the TV station reported.

The male suspect was killed by return fire from the deputies in the incident around midnight in the 3900 block of West Century Boulevard near Hollywood Park, according to the Sheriff’s Department and media reports.

He was not immediately identified, but Sheriff’s Department officials said he was in his 40s.

Two other suspects in the incident, a man and a woman, were taken into custody, and a handgun was recovered from the scene, officials said.

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