KILLEEN -
Killeen police say they have arrested and charged a 19-year-old man for hitting and injuring a police officer with a vehicle on January 30. Charles Raul Torres was charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle used as a deadly weapon.
Authorities say the stolen vehicle was reported to police early in Wednesday morning. One officer patrolling in the 200 block of N WS Young, spotted the car. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused and a pursuit ensued, according to Public Information Officer Carroll Smith.
Smith says the chase continued through the neighborhood north of Rancier Ave, continuing onto Cole Ave. The pursuit ended at the corner of Cole Ave and Duncan when Torres ran into a patrol unit injuring the officer.
A witness watched the scene unfold right in front of his house. His car was also hit.
"I came outside and looked at my car, and the first thing I said, 'Oh he hit my car!'", said AJ Swindling.
Once the suspects vehicle was stopped, the driver continued to run on foot and was caught by police in the 1600 block of Duncan.
Two males, Torres and a 32-year-old passenger, were taken to the Killeen City Jail. The passenger was arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants and was later released.
The injured officer was transported to Metroplex Hospital with a head injury and taken to Scott and White Memorial Hospital. The police officer was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon.
