Kent Officer Killed by Fellow Officer After Being Struck by Patrol Car During Chase

It is with heartbreak and sadness that we read of the loss of an officer from the Kent, WA Police Department, killed in the line of duty.

An officer who was deploying spike strips was struck and killed by a patrol car that was pursing a suspect in Kent, WA early Sunday morning (July 22, 2018).

Just before 2 a.m. Sunday, Kent police officers responded to 911 calls of shots fired in the area of Russell Rd. S and W Meeker St. Officers in the area at the time heard the gunshots and noticed a red truck fleeing a parking lot of a Shari's Restaurant. A witness who also saw the red truck indicated the truck may have been involved, so officers followed the vehicle.

"They tried to initiate a stop and the vehicle fled from them and made attempts to elude them," said Kent Police Commander Jarod Kasner.

Kasner says officers chased the vehicle all the way to Kent Des Moines Rd., where officers were deploying spike strips at an intersection in an attempt to stop the truck. An officer who was deploying the spike strips was struck by one of the patrol cars who was pursuing the suspected vehicle.

Medical attempts were made at the scene to help the struck officer, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other officer in the patrol car was involved in a collision immediately after the crash. He was also injured and transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he was listed in satisfactory condition.

The fleeing red truck continued east on Kent Des Moines Road, where it crashed near Washington Ave. One suspect was placed in custody and arrested. Police officers were looking for two other suspects.  (King 5 News, July 22, 2018)
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