Phoenix Police officer injured while dodging car; driver arrested
PHOENIX - A suspect is in custody after a Phoenix Police officer was injured during a foot pursuit on Saturday morning.
Police have arrested 18-year-old Juan Velarde on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer. Phoenix Police say officers responded to the Santa Fe Springs Apartments near 17th Avenue and Glendale after receiving reports of some type of an argument.
When officers arrived, the people involved in the fight began to run off. Police say one of the suspects intentionally drove a black passenger car directly toward one of the officers. As a result, the officer suffered minor injuries to the knee.
The driver took off and police followed the suspect up I-17. They set up a perimeter in the area where the suspect was last seen, near 41st Avenue and Missouri, and eventually found the disabled vehicle.
Veldarde was found hiding in the area, and has been detained on charges of aggravated assault against a police officer.