La Plata, MD – A La Plata police officer sustained injuries Thursday afternoon, Aug. 25 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a man suspected of using drugs, the town agency reported.
Town of La Plata Police Department Chief Carl Schinner told The BayNet that around 3 p.m. the officer, who was on bike patrol, observed a vehicle parked in the 500 block of Charles Street. A man inside the vehicle appeared to be in the process of injecting a suspected drug into his arm. The officer approached the vehicle and ordered the occupant to get out. The occupant instead started the vehicle and attempted to flee.
The officer was struck by the vehicle. The suspect was apprehended a short time later.
Both the officer and suspect were taken to a local hospital.
Schinner declined to identify the officer, who was transported to the emergency room and is expected to be released in a few hours.
The suspect ingested a small bag of suspected heroin, according to Schinner, and was taken to the hospital for observation and analysis. The suspect’s name has not been released. Charges are pending.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com