NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. — An officer with the North Palm Beach Police Department was hit by a driver Christmas night during a pursuit in northern Palm Beach County.
The officer attempted to stop a vehicle driven by John Marshall, 22, of Lake Worth Beach, for speeding, North Palm Beach police spokesman Sgt. Lou Pearson said Monday.
However, Marshall failed to stop and continued north on U.S. Highway 1 and out of the city's limits before finally stopping in the 1900 block of Kathy Lane. A mailbox and tree were damaged.
Two residents recorded video on Ring cameras and described to WPTV the pursuit. Both said they were awakened by the incident.
"There was a car in my yard," Zach Baltran said. "The police officer was approaching him with, I believe, his firearm and the guy reversed and hit the police officer and sped off pretty fast. And it was pretty loud. He hit it going pretty quick."
"My car was parked pretty much in the exact same spot last night so he just missed it," John Perrault, whose property was damaged, said. "It sounded like someone was moaning and whaling and crying. It was a little startling."
Pearson said the officer gave numerous verbal commands for Marshall to get out of the vehicle, but the driver ignored those demands.
Marshall then put the car in reverse and turned the car, striking the police officer in the leg and hitting a mailbox and tree, according to Pearson. The suspect then recklessly drove away from the scene.
A police pursuit continued with the assistance of neighboring agencies, police said.
The vehicle was later found abandoned a short time later.
North Palm Beach police detectives were able to identify Marshall and later arrested him.
The injured officer, whose name has not been released, was transported to the hospital and treated for undisclosed injuries.
Marshall faces charges of aggravated battery of an officer and fleeing and eluding police.
Palm Beach County jail records show he was being held on a $33,000 bond.