Man arrested after ramming police cruiser, injuring officer

A 36-year-old man is facing charges following an incident where an officer was hit with a vehicle while trying to make an arrest.

The incident began just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday when a man entered a retail store on the 2900 block of Gordon Road.

The man allegedly took two jackets on display and ran out of the store without paying. Employees tried to stop him from driving away in a jeep, but were unsuccessful.

An investigation by police led them to a home on the 1300 block of Aberdeen Street.

When officers arrived, the jeep was parked in the back and the man was getting into a black Alero.

Police said they told the man to stop but he drove forward and hit an officer, struck a police car and drove off.

The officer who was hit suffered minor injuries but has since returned to duty.

On Wednesday, the vehicle was spotted by police in the area of 4th Avenue and Pasqua Street. When officers turned on their lights and sirens to stop the car, the driver once again evaded police.

On Thursday, the man was arrested without incident around 3:25 a.m.

He faces multiple charges, including assaulting an officer with a weapon.