Police patrol car struck by man fleeing traffic stop

A Wichita police officer is OK after a man in a stolen vehicle backed into his patrol car while fleeing from a traffic stop.

The officer who responded to a call about a stolen vehicle not far from Lincoln and Woodlawn at around 6 p.m. Monday spotted the vehicle and tried to stop it when it pulled into a driveway in the 900 block of South Apache, said Officer Charley Davidson, a spokesman for the Wichita Police Department.

The 22-year-old driver backed the vehicle toward the officer after he exited his patrol car, Davidson said. The officer was able to move out of the way before the man struck the patrol car and drove away.

Police chased the vehicle to the 1400 block of North Fairmount, near 13th and Hillside, where the three people inside the stolen vehicle got out and fled. All three were taken into custody and questioned, Davidson said.

The 22-year-old man was jailed on suspicion of fleeing or attempting to elude authorities, aggravated assault of a police officer and possession of drugs. He is a gang member, Davidson said.

Kaitlyn Alanis: 316-268-6213, @KaitlynAlanis

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Police patrol car struck by man fleeing traffic stop."