PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia police officer shot a driver who pinned him against a wall with his car while resisting a traffic stop Thursday night, authorities say. The driver later died, and the officer is in the hospital with injuries to his legs.
It started at around 7 p.m. when a 25th district officer, who was patrolling alone, tried to stop a car at F Street and Roosevelt Boulevard. The reason for this stop was not immediately clear, police said.
The driver did not stop, according to police, and traveled a mile to Adams and Newtown avenues in Crescentville. At that location, three other drivers blocked the road and the fleeing driver was boxed in, said Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, citing the accounts from the three citizens who stopped to help.
The driver then backed up and hit the officer's car. The officer got out and approached the driver.
The civilian witnesses say the suspect then steered his car toward the officer, pinning him against one of the walls of the bridge in Tacony Creek Park.
"At that point, they observe the officer fire multiple shots into the car. At that same time, they also see a passenger exit the vehicle. Those same civilians and independent witnesses were able to grab that person and detain them," Bethel said.
The wounded driver managed to drive off. Police found it a short distance away on the 200 block of Benner Street. The suspect had sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body. He was transported to Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The injured officer was also transported to Einstein, where he is in stable condition with injuries to his legs.
Bethel said the investigation is just beginning and police will be reviewing video of the incident from body-worn cameras and security cameras.
Bethel spoke Thursday night of the risks officers take daily while trying to do their jobs.
"Sometimes it comes when someone is firing shots at us. Sometimes it comes when someone is trying to stab us. Sometimes it comes when someone is trying to beat us. And sometimes it comes when somebody is trying to run us over with a vehicle. We understand that. That is part of the work that these men and women step up to and do every day," Bethel said.
"We also understand the gravity of taking someone's life as well. We do not discard that as if that's something that doesn't matter."
