Missouri police officer 'ambushed and shot' by black man during routine traffic stop

A police officer has been critically injured after he was 'ambushed' and shot during a traffic stop in Missouri.

The white officer, who has not been named, was fired at three times by 31-year-old black man Antonio Taylor, police in St Louis said.

The cop had his back turned when Taylor 'advanced quickly' from behind, leaving him 'completely helpless', St Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.

It is not clear if the attack has any connection to the shooting of 12 police officers in Dallas on Thursday, in which five cops died, but Taylor is not believed to have any link to the officer.

The cop was walking back to his car after pulling over the motorist when he was attacked, Ballwin Police Chief Kevin Scott said.

The officer was going to check the driver's details when the suspect got out of the vehicle and fired three times, the police chief said.

The officer 'had no chance at all' to pull his handgun and 'was completely helpless,' Scott added, noting that the incident was recorded by the police car's dashcam.

Taylor allegedly sped away after the shooting and was arrested four miles away after his car was spotted by an officer from a neighboring police department.

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