A Waterloo Regional Police officer was taken to hospital after being shot at with a pellet gun.

Police said the officer was one of several who was approaching a vehicle at a traffic stop on Ottawa Street South near Nyberg Street in Kitchener around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Mike Haffner told CTV News that multiple pellets had been fired at the officer, after which the officer returned fire.

The officer's fire missed the person in question, Haffner said, but the man was placed under arrest.

Witnesses at the scene told CTV News they heard something that “sounded like a pop,” then saw police officers with their guns drawn.

One woman reported that a tow truck transporting a U-Haul vehicle had helped box in a car to prevent it from continuing on Ottawa Street.

“The cops came running out toward that car,” she said.

The officer, who was hit in the face with at least one pellet, was taken to hospital.

Information on their condition was not available Tuesday evening.

Roads remained closed in the area as of 7 p.m.