HAMMOND | A North Hammond man is in serious condition after being shot by police who said he pointed a handgun at them while fleeing from a Saturday morning traffic stop.

Kevin Greene, 26, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his lower back and faces a single felony count of pointing a firearm, police said.

Police said Greene was the passenger in a white sedan being driven shortly after 2 a.m. through the 800 block of Eaton Street, when a Hammond patrol officer noticed that neither occupant of the car was wearing a seat belt.

The driver did not pull over in response to the police car's warning lights, the officer reported, and Greene jumped out of the car at the intersection of Eaton Street and Sohl Avenue and began running, with a chrome revolver in his hand.

Police chased Greene through the Nickel Plate Rail Road exhibit and cornered him against a chain-link fence on the west side of the display, where officers reported that Greene turned to face them with the gun still in his hand.

One of the pursuing officers fired a single shot, which struck Greene, police said. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The driver of the car, Hector Figueroa, 30, of Hammond, was charged with felony resisting arrest for his failure to stop for police.

The shooting is under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Department and the officer, a sergeant and 12-year department veteran, was placed on administrative leave pending the report.

Police Chief Brian Miller said preliminary indications suggest the officer followed all general orders relating to the use of deadly force.

Greene had a previous arrest on his record for carrying a handgun without a permit, Miller said.