Wichita police Officer Brian Arterburn continues to improve

After a tough few months, Officer Brian Arterburn’s condition is starting to improve again, Wichita police officials said Friday.

Arterburn was run over by a stolen SUV in February. Unconscious for several days after he was hit, Arterburn underwent multiple surgeries. He started breathing on his own in late February and recently started walking on his own.

Detective Dave Nienstedt gave reporters an update on Arterburn’s condition for the first time since March.

In late May, Arterburn was taken to a medical center in Kansas City to receive additional treatments. But during his last two months back in Colorado, Arterburn had a couple setbacks.

He started getting headaches and a CT scan showed he had a fluid build-up in his brain. He received a shunt, which helped relieve the pressure, Neinstedt said.

Then, doctors started fearing secondary infections after Arterburn’s blood count began to decrease.

“It got to the point where he could hardly get out of his bed,” Nienstedt said.

“Almost overnight he made a recovery.”

Arterburn’s blood count went back up, and he recently started walking again.

“He’s very focused,” Nienstedt said. “He thinks about home all the time … and really appreciates all the support from the community.”

Arterburn, a 25-year police veteran, was a first-shift beat officer assigned to the department’s Patrol South bureau at the time he was hurt.

The man allegedly driving the vehicle, Justin Terrazas, 31, is facing criminal charges of aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer and other felonies in connection with the case.

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 11:38 AM with the headline "Wichita police Officer Brian Arterburn continues to improve."