Fleeing driver hits police officer, leads police on chase

PEORIA, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A police chase in Peoria took a strange turn of events on Saturday when the fleeing driver hit a police officer with his car, and later ditched it and rolled away on a skateboard.

The Peoria Police Department tells Fox 10 that it all started during a routine traffic stop near 84th Avenue and Union Hill Drive. Michael Bradford, 30, abruptly took off after being pulled over and he hit the police officer with his vehicle in the process.

Police followed Bradford until he stopped and bailed from his vehicle, with a gun and skateboard in hand.

During the chase, police lost track of Bradford, but he was later found in the backyard of a nearby home.

The officer who was struck by Bradford's vehicle suffered minor injuries and is expected to fully recover.

Bradford has been charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful flight from a law enforcement vehicle, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, theft of stolen property, resisting arrest, endangerment, knowingly displaying fictitious license plates and driving on a suspended license.

He will be booked into Fourth Avenue Jail.