Shots fired after suspects hit Prince George’s County police officer with van; 1 injured

Shots fired after suspects hit Prince George's County police officer with van

Two suspects were arrested after a Prince George’s County officer was hit with a van and shots were fired in the early morning hours Sunday.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. - Two suspects were arrested after a Prince George’s County officer was hit with a van and shots were fired in the early morning hours Sunday.

Police say the incident happened in Clinton, Md. around 1:50 a.m. when officers were patrolling in the 7600 block of Crane Highway looking for a vehicle suspected in connection to a burglary at a fast food restaurant.

Officers spotted a van and what appeared to be suspects breaking into a closed gas station. They pulled into the parking lot and one officer ran to the passenger side of the van while the other went to the driver's side attempting to stop the man behind the wheel. The driver began to flee and struck the officer.

That's when a second officer shot at the suspects.

Chief Malik Aziz with Prince George's County police described what happened next as a situation that could’ve been catastrophic.

"The driver sped off with the officer halfway in the van. The second officer discharged his duty weapon one time, striking the driver. Instead of stopping the driver continued to flee with the officer still halfway in the van. He crossed the four-lane Crane Highway along to A. Osbourne Road where the officer was thrown from the van," Aziz said.

Once the officer was thrown from the car, that’s when a chase started. It lasted about 15 minutes, ending in Temple Hills.

The driver and a second suspect were apprehended at Branch Avenue and Old Silver Hill Road.

After the arrest, police found that one suspect had been shot. He has since been released from the hospital.

The officer hit by the van was also transported to a hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening and will be on routine administrative leave.

Following an investigation, police discovered that the van the suspects were driving was stolen from a church earlier that evening and as they searched the gas station, officers found a pry bar and they say the ATM was tampered with.

This is all preliminary but Aziz says this MO matches about a dozen other burglaries within the county where suspects steal a car and use it in another crime.

The investigation is ongoing. Check back with FOX 5 for updates.