Along with other police units, the officer responded to reports of an incident at the intersection of South 9th and Pacific Avenue in Tacoma on Saturday night around 6:20 p.m., according to the statement. Once at the scene, officers found several vehicles and about 100 people blocking the intersection, which they began cleaning up “for the safety of people gathered and people trying to use the street,” the statement said. .
The crowd then surrounded one of the police vehicles and began hitting the vehicle and its windows while the lights and sirens were activated, according to police. According to the statement, the SUV agent tried to make a backup, but was unable to do so due to the crowd.
“Fearing for his safety,” the statement said, “the officer advanced hitting one individual and may have affected others,” while trying to get out of the “insecure position.” Once the officer was “at a security point,” police say he called for medical help.
The officer was not identified in the police statement.
The Pierce County Force investigation team is investigating the incident, according to the statement.
Crowd hit the agent’s car
One person, whose condition is unknown, was taken to a local hospital after the incident, according to police. Haddow told The New Tribune that one person suffered a laceration in the collision and was transported to a local hospital, according to the newspaper.
In at least one graphic video of the incident circulating on social media, you can see the police vehicle, with lights and sirens on, slowly approaching the crowd gathered in front of the vehicle. You hear an engine spin in the background and the vehicle backs up and then accelerates toward the crowd, dropping several people to the ground.
The vehicle shrinks slightly and appears to bounce while driving over something before continuing through the intersection. You can see the rear tires of the vehicle rolling over someone who is on the street.
A second video shows a white car making donuts in the center of the intersection and leaving just as police arrive at the scene, moments before the police vehicle is seen driving through the crowd.
In another video, the sound of an engine is followed by a series of blows and an individual exclaims twice, “Damn, they’re hitting a police car.” Moments later, he hears an engine spinning again and people disperse and start shouting, “Oh, my God! Oh, my God!” repeatedly. A few seconds later, a smaller crowd is seen forming around what appears to be someone lying on the ground.
“I am concerned that our department is experiencing another use of lethal force,” Tacoma interim police chief Mike Ake said in the press release.
“I send my thoughts to anyone who has been injured in tonight’s event and I am committed to our department’s full cooperation in independent investigation and evaluating the department’s response actions during the incident,” he said. to say.
Elizabeth Pauli, manager of the city of Tacoma, told The News Tribune that the officer would be on leave.
CNN’s Jennifer Feldman contributed to this report.