ST. LOUIS • A St. Louis man has been charged with a 2008 assault on a police officer after he was matched to DNA from a baseball cap left at the scene.

Theodis L. Polk, 20, of the 4100 block of Enright Avenue, was charged Thursday in St. Louis Circuit Court with one felony count of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer for the July 2008 encounter.

According to charges, Polk shot at an officer's car while he was patrolling near the intersection of Linton Avenue and 20th Street. The officer returned fire, hitting Polk in the leg. Police say Polk dropped his gun and baseball cap when he was struck, then fled.

In unrelated incidents, Polk was charged with vehicle tampering in 2010 and leaving the scene of the accident in 2011. Police say after DNA from the hat was matched to Polk he confessed to the shooting.

He is being held in lieu of $25,000 cash bond.