A routine traffic stop in the Bronx turned into a full-on manhunt last Tuesday evening, after police say the driver of a black Ford Taurus hit an NYPD officer with the side of the car and then took off in front of 536 East 168th Street.
Investigators say the sedan, which kept going after striking the officer, has not been found. Detectives are now working to track down both the vehicle and the person behind the wheel.
What authorities say
According to an alert posted on X, officers pulled over a black Ford Taurus around 6:37 p.m. last Tuesday in front of 536 East 168th Street. During the stop, police say, the driver struck an officer with the driver’s side of the car and then sped off.
The alert lists the car’s license plate as Montana tag 607398C and notes that the vehicle left the area in an unknown direction. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest.
Where it happened
The incident unfolded in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, right in front of 536 East 168th Street, a six-story walk-up with dozens of residential units, according to PropertyShark. The block, wedged between Third Avenue and Fulton Avenue, sits near transit and storefronts, making it a busy residential stretch during the evening rush.
Because of that, investigators are urging anyone who was in the area at the time and might have seen something, or has video from around 6:37 p.m., to come forward.
Legal context
Hitting a police officer with a car is not just a bad day at the DMV. Under New York law, it can bring serious criminal consequences, and in some situations prosecutors can pursue aggravated assault charges if an officer suffers serious physical injury.
The state penal code details the offense of aggravated assault upon a police or peace officer and the heightened penalties that can come with it; the full statute is available via the New York State Senate. Whether those or other charges are ultimately filed will depend on what investigators determine about the driver’s intent and any injuries to the officer.
How to help
Police are asking anyone with tips, video, or other evidence tied to the hit-and-run to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers. Investigators say footage from the area around 6:37 p.m. last Tuesday could be especially important.
Tips can be submitted anonymously through the NYPD Crime Stoppers online tip portal. The department has also previously provided 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish-language callers.
