Fairview Heights police officer injured at mall attempting to stop suspected car thief
A Fairview Heights police officer was injured at St. Clair Square Thursday morning attempting to detain a suspected car thief.
According to Fairview Heights Public Information Officer Tim Mueller, the injured officer observed a parked car with its hazard lights flashing on the sidewalk outside of the Dillard’s store in mall around 10:45 a.m. He learned that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Genevieve County, Missouri, after doing a check on its license plates.
The suspect saw the officer approaching the car and attempted to get in the driver’s seat, a news release from the department stated. The officer ordered the man to stop, but he continued to get into the car and attempted to speed off while dragging the officer, who was partially inside the car, with it.
The man crashed into the side of the JC Penney store at the mall and injured both the officer and a bystander, who was struck by the moving vehicle, the release stated.
The 20-year-old suspect, who is from St. Louis, ran back into the mall, where he was taken into custody by police. According to the release, the man had an active warrant for auto theft in St. Louis County.
The 30-year-old officer, who has been on the force for four years, was transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries, while the bystander only received minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.
During a search of the car, police also found a handgun.
Illinois State Police was also on scene investigating the incident. The Fairview Heights Police Department said more information will be released “as it is received,” according to a statement.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 11:57 AM.
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