A Chicago police officer was injured after being struck by a vehicle that was subject to a traffic stop in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The incident occurred just before 10:00 p.m. when the officer was attending to a silver Acura sedan in the 700 block of South Central Park Avenue. As reported by The Chicago Tribune, the driver suddenly opened his door, put the car in reverse, and hit the officer, causing him to fall to the ground.
The officer, who suffered minor lacerations and pain in his leg, was quickly taken to an area hospital following the incident. Authorities are currently investigating the matter, but no arrests have been made at this time. The vehicle involved was later discovered abandoned, showing signs of damage, not far from the scene, according to CBS News Chicago.
Following the officer's encounter, the Acura fled east on Flournoy Street, leaving investigators to appeal to the public for any information leading to the driver. The details surrounding the cause of the initial traffic stop have not been released by the police.
Area 4 detectives are now thoroughly investigating the circumstances of the traffic stop and the subsequent assault on the officer. The search for Acura's driver continues as the police work to quickly bring the individual to justice. Meanwhile, the community has been prompted to come forward with any relevant details that could assist in identifying and apprehending the person responsible for injuring a member of their police force.
