Yes. Also, I wonder what they were doing that caught the officer’s attention in the first place? So far, no reports reveal that, so perhaps they’re tracking the thugs through some connection with the “suspicious activity,” whatever it was.
If the cop walked 50 yards from his vehicle, I'm thinking he was 'set up'. A 50 yard walk away from your vehicle with 3 suspicious dudes lurking about in a remote wooded/marshy area is NOT a wise maneuver before backup arrives.
I thought they said it was a robbery (from a home) .. and when the cop showed up, they took off running.
Maybe he should have given chase alone ..??