An American police officer who was trying to help a woman in distress in the parking lot of the local police station was reportedly violently knocked down Tuesday after she suddenly reversed at high speed to “intentionally” hit him.
“I am absolutely outraged by the actions of this criminal. This woman showed a complete lack of respect towards Officer Fowler who was trying to help her. I will NOT tolerate this behavior towards members of my family,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno, of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) in Florida, on Facebook.
Last Tuesday, Officer Fowler was welcoming visitors to police headquarters when he was reportedly informed of a problem with a woman who was in the parking lot at the front of the building.
It was then that he allegedly approached the vehicle to speak with the woman, identified as Aran Baker, in an attempt to defuse the situation.
Except that upon seeing that she was acting erratically, the officer would have judged it better to stand aside to call for additional support, standing in the back of the woman’s car, it reads.
He would then have been hit head-on by the vehicle, while the “maniacal” woman would have “put the car into reverse at high speed” before “accelerating” and “intentionally hitting” the police officer, then taking the escape powder.
“Deputy Fowler fell to the ground and Baker sped off, leaving the parking lot without remorse, leaving Deputy Fowler injured and lying on the ground,” the police force said, sharing images of the collision.
The driver was reportedly located a short time later at a nearby grocery store, where she resisted arrest by struggling on the ground, body camera footage also shows.
She was allegedly handcuffed for aggravated injury to a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence, the sheriff’s office added.
For his part, Officer Fowler is said to be recovering from his injuries, while the police force shared an image of the man with his leg in a splint.
“At this point, my top priority is to ensure he receives the best care and fully recovers from this horrific incident,” concluded Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
