California: El Cajon police officer struck by hit-run driver
California Law Enforcement
An El Cajon police officer suffered a minor injury after being struck by a hit-and-run driver Thursday night, police said. Officers traced the SUV by its license number and arrested a 27-year-old man on a variety of drug, theft and assault charges.
Police were sent to a strip mall on North Second and Main streets about 8 p.m. to check on a man who was sleeping behind the wheel of a Jeep SUV. The driver’s door was open. When an officer walked up, the driver quickly turned on the engine and started backing up, El Cajon police Lt. Royal Bates said.
The open car door hit the officer and the Jeep struck the patrol car’s front bumper. Then the Jeep driver kept going. Bates said the officer was treated at a hospital for a minor injury
Police went to the home of the registered owner and later arrested a man suspected in the assault on the officer.