PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- Nursing a fresh gunshot wound to his left shoulder, a Palatka police officer spent Monday afternoon recounting the traffic stop that nearly cost him his life.

Deputies said Cpl. Pete Ruiz was heading to an off-duty job Saturday night when he spotted a vehicle being driven erratically. He stopped 39-year-old Paul Savage on state Road 17 on suspicion of drunken driving.

When the six-year veteran approached the driver's door, Savage shot him once in the shoulder, according to Maj. Keith Riddick of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

"This was at 8 p.m. It's dark, and he can't really see what's going on in the vehicle. This guy had the drop on him, literally," Riddick said.

Two days after the incident, police released Ruiz's call for help after being shot. The officer can be heard on the tape saying he was shot in the arm; and the dispatcher orders all units to respond.

While Ruiz sought cover, another officer arrived at the scene and returned fire. That's when Savage got back in his vehicle and sped north on U.S. 17.

Police said Savage had no intentions of stopping, and they were forced to use stop sticks. Savage was stopped about five miles from the shooting scene, but ran into the woods.

"He ended up having to be caught with a K-9. There was struggle," said Riddick.

He said when Savage was arrested, officers found the suspect had another loaded pistol and a box of ammunition.

Riddick said the officers would have been within their rights to use deadly force, but instead wanted to be sure Savage had his day in court.

Savage was taken to Putnam Community Hospital for treatment of injuries received from the police dog, and then was booked into the Putnam County Jail.