Two Portland Police Officers were injured when their parked patrol cars were struck by an allegedly impaired driver in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood. The incident unfolded early yesterday morning when the officers were finishing up a service call. Without the fanfare of flashing lights, the vehicles sat quietly along North Greeley Avenue, unaware of the imminent collision that would interrupt the silent night, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
At approximately 12:19 a.m., a white Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 47-year-old Portland resident Charlotte L. West, sideswiped the two Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles, leaving behind a trail of twisted metal and flashing red and blue. One officer, trapped by a damaged door, awaited rescue as Portland Fire & Rescue provided on-scene treatment. The collision resulted in injuries significant enough to keep the officers from duty for a projected week or more, speaking to the severity of the incident despite their survival.
In the aftermath, police took West into custody. She now faces multiple charges: Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Assault in the Fourth Degree involving two counts, as stated by the Portland Police Bureau. All three vehicles, bearing the scars of the night's events, were subsequently towed from the scene.
In a statement reflecting on the perilous nature of police work, Chief Bob Day expressed well wishes for the officers' recovery. "This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day as they serve our community", he said, as per the Portland Police Bureau.
