An early morning traffic stop turned dangerous on Wednesday, when a VicPD officer was dragged by a vehicle driven by an impaired driver.
Just after 3 a.m. on December 29th, a patrol officer observed a vehicle turning onto Pandora Avenue at Blanshard Street, driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
The officer responded, pulling the vehicle over to initiate an impaired driving investigation.
Upon connecting with dispatch, the officer was informed the registered owner of the vehicle had a previous homicide conviction. He had also recently expressed a desire for a fatal encounter with police.
As a result, additional police officers were dispatched to the scene.
Two officers approached the vehicle where, allegedly, it was clear the male driver was intoxicated.
Once confronted, the man started the van and attempted to flee.
One of the officers on scene became entangled with the vehicle and was dragged several meters before being able to free themselves.
The officer was injured but returned to his vehicle to follow the suspect.
The driver then turned onto Amelia street, attempting to make a turn into a driveway which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle and a house.
After the collision, officers used their vehicle to pin the van in place.
The suspect exited the vehicle but did not comply, resulting in officers deploying bean bag rounds and tasers.
The man fell to the ground and was transported to hospital and then taken into custody.
Once in custody, he was given a breathalyzer test and failed. His vehicle was impounded and he has been given a driving prohibition. He will appear in court at a later date.
The injured officer received medical attention as a result of their non-life-threatening leg injury.
The officer was transported back to headquarters to complete their file but was not able to complete their shift; they will take time to recover before returning to duty.
Crash analysts documented and investigated the scene of the collision at the residential home, where damage to the home and vehicle were extensive.
Thankfully, the occupants of the house were not physically injured.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the VicPD Report Desk at 250 995 7654.
