Video shows Ariz. officer ramming suspect with car

Video shows Ariz. officer ramming suspect with car

An Arizona police chief is defending an officer who was recorded driving a cruiser diagonally across a street and slamming into an armed suspect walking along a sidewalk.

Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema released dashcam videos of the violent Feb. 19 crash this week.

Officer Michael Rapiejko crashed his car into Latino suspect Mario Valencia, 36, who police say fired a shot at officers. Valencia is accused of stealing a rifle from a Walmart, leading a home invasion, robbing a convenience store and firing a shot at police with the stolen firearm.

The videos represent a new twist in the recent rush of recorded confrontations between police officers and suspects of color. Police fired no shots, Valencia was hospitalized in serious condition but released and sent to jail two days later.

Rozema defended the officer’s decision to ram into Valencia. He told Tucson’s KVOA-TV that if Valencia had approached an officer, police would have had “no choice but to begin firing” at the suspect.

“The thought is to take a shot, which would have been completely justified. Then he is looking at it as this guy has a high powered rifle. If I miss, he is going to turn and start firing on us and we are at a big disadvantage at that point,” the police chief said.

Valencia’s lawyer disagrees.

“Everything in the video seems to point towards an obvious excessive use of force. It is miraculous that my client isn’t dead,” attorney Michelle Cohen-Metzger told CNN.

The Pima County Attorney’s office cleared Rapiejko of any wrongdoing. Valencia faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, unlawful discharge of a firearm and other counts.

Two videos were released, one from the car that struck Valencia and one from a nearby cruiser. The first video shows the dashboard camera view of a cruiser approaching the suspect. The officer says to the suspect: “You don’t wanna do this, you don’t wanna do this.” He tells the dispatcher that the man has a gun to his neck.

The other video is from the dashcam of a cruiser that speeds past the first cruiser and cuts diagonally across the road heading directly for the suspect. A loud bang is heard and the cruiser’s windshield cracks from the impact.

Valencia was taken to the University of Arizona Medical Center and remained there two days before being transferred to jail, Tucson News Now reported.

Marana, a fast growing city of 40,000 about 25 northwest of Tucson, has a police force of about 85 officers.

How We Can Help
If you, a friend or a family member find themselves in a situation such as this, please call the Law Office of Scott A. Ferris, P.A. at 305 670-3330 right away. Scott A. Ferris, Esq. is a licensed criminal law attorney who has been practicing law since 1987. He is available whenever you need him to defend your rights. Please learn about our firm at www.FerrisLawFirm.com.
Republished by the Law Office of Scott A. Ferris, P.A.