A routine traffic stop in Midtown turned chaotic Thursday when a Memphis Police Department motorcycle officer was intentionally hit by a driver, according to police. The officer escaped serious injury, no other injuries were reported, and a woman was taken into custody after a brief pursuit that ended in South Memphis. Officers boxed in the vehicle and stopped it at Kerr Avenue and Kyle Street, where they detained the driver.
Officer Struck During Traffic Stop, Police Say
According to WREG, MPD said the officer had pulled over a vehicle at Eastmoreland and South Pauline when the driver shifted into reverse and intentionally backed into the motorcycle officer, then tried to take off. Officers followed the car south until it stopped at Kerr Avenue and Kyle Street, where they detained the woman behind the wheel. Police told WREG on Thursday afternoon that there was still no word on what charges she might face.
Pursuits And Traffic-Stop Dangers In Memphis
Traffic stops that spiral into pursuits have been a recurring problem in Memphis this year, a reminder that what starts as routine can turn risky in a matter of seconds. Earlier this month, MPD detained two people after a chase that ended in a crash in the Parkway Village area, as reported by Action News 5. In another case, the department outlined a February traffic-stop shooting that left an officer critically injured on its Memphis Police Department news page. Together, those incidents highlight both the hazards officers face during street-level enforcement and the complex investigations that follow when things go sideways.
Legal Implications
Under Tennessee law, intentionally fleeing a police officer in a vehicle can be prosecuted under Justia, which treats evading arrest in a vehicle as a felony that can be elevated if the flight creates a risk of death or injury, and intentionally striking a public servant could meet the elements of aggravated assault under Justia. The charges, if any, will be determined by investigators and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office after they review the evidence.
Investigation Ongoing
MPD said the investigation is still active, and as WREG reported, there was no immediate information about charges as of Thursday afternoon. Authorities are expected to release more details once investigators and prosecutors decide how to proceed.
