BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A Bakersfield police officer shot at a suspected thief in southwest Bakersfield after that man tried to run the officer over.

Detective Mary DeGeare said, "Employees in the Stockdale Towers saw what they thought was a burglary in progress. They saw three people moving property from one vehicle to another."

When officers arrived at the towers, they said they were able to detain Andrew Eugene Williams, 24, and Tara Marie Monti, 20, who were in a black truck. But Dennis Barton, 37, took off in a stolen white Jeep and lead police on a chase in the parking structure.

During this time, officer Santiago Baltazar, on a motorcycle, started making his way up the parking structure from the bottom.

Barton started making his way down the parking structure and almost side swiped the motorcycle officer. Barton then smashed the Jeep into several cars, DeGeare told ABC23.

Baltazar tried getting Barton out of the vehicle, but the man sped off once more crashing the Jeep, DeGeare stated.

Barton ended up spinning his Jeep and was facing the officer.

Baltazar then fired three times at the vehicle as it was racing towards him, DeGeare told ABC23.

Baltazar shot the vehicle, but all three shots missed the suspect, so he continued driving erratically through the parking structure ending with Barton slamming his vehicle into a wall.

Baltazar chased back up the parking structure and tried to use a Taser on Barton. Only one dart made contact with Barton, so the Taser was ineffective, DeGeare told ABC23.

Barton then took off once more and ran out of the parking structure on to California Avenue.

Arriving officers were able to take Barton into custody, but Barton complained of difficulty breathing and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Several cars were damaged inside the parking structure.

The Jeep and a Toyota Scion were taken during a residential burglary from a gated community in Seven Oaks early Wednesday morning. The investigation into the offense is continuing.

Baltazar will be placed on routine administrative leave pending investigation and an internal review.