NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A bizarre chain of events beginning with a shoplifting investigation in the Upper East Side ended with an NYPD officer struck by a car and sent to the hospital mere blocks away.
Officers were dusting for fingerprints at the Mackage clothing store at 68th Street and Madison Avenue while investigating a shoplifting incident, when they spotted a suspected getaway car.
Police began chasing the gray Nissan sedan, which eventually pulled over at 71st Street and Fifth Avenue. The Nissan then sped away again, side-swiping doorman Roy Gambino’s car.
“He pulled to the side, as the cop got out of the car to walk into the center, the passenger ran on top of the sidewalk, made a left on 71st Street, the cops ran back in their car, and starting chasing them down 71st Street,” Gambino said.
The officers were able to stop the Nissan when it hit traffic in the southbound lanes of 71st Street and Park Avenue.
One of the officers was guarding the getaway car when they were struck by an unrelated black Lexus driving the wrong way.
The female driver of the Lexus was arrested at the scene.
The struck officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a broken arm and leg.
This story will be updated as more information is released.