Tacoma Police and other law enforcement vehicles are shown near the site of a major incident Jan. 23, 2021, in downtown Tacoma. At least one person was injured when a police car driven by a Tacoma officer plowed through a crowd of people Saturday night who were watching a downtown street race. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

At Least 2 Injured After Tacoma Police Officer Plows Car Through Crowd At Downtown Street Race

By NWPB News January 24, 2021

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS STAFF

At least two people were injured when a police officer responding to a report of a street race plowed his car through a crowd of pedestrians that had gathered around him and were pounding on the car’s windows in downtown Tacoma on Saturday night, officials said.

The incident happened just before 7 p.m. as about 100 people were blocking an intersection and watching several cars spinning in circles, police told The News Tribune of Tacoma.

A police car arrived, then drove through the crowd after people tried to block the vehicle, a witness said.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO BELOW

Video posted on social media shows the police car hitting several people and running over at least one person.

9th and Pacific Ave in Tacoma pic.twitter.com/C76iq2Eimw
— Jason Gauthier (@jasonjgauthier) January 24, 2021

“He had tire marks all over his body,” witness Cory Le told KTBS-TV. “Belly out. His shoes were off. Honestly, it was like something out of a movie.”

Tacoma police spokesperson Wendy Haddow told the newspaper that police were notified shortly after 6 p.m. of the street racers.

Haddow said a responding officer used his car’s bullhorn to address the crowd. The crowd then began pounding on his windows, she said.

Tacoma Police and other law enforcement vehicles are shown near the site of a major incident Jan. 23, 2021, in downtown Tacoma. At least two people were seriously injured when a police car driven by a Tacoma officer plowed through a crowd of people Saturday night who were watching a downtown street race. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

“The officer, fearing for his safety, tried to back up, but was unable to do so because of the crowd,” Tacoma Police said in a statement. That prompted him to speed out of the scene for his own safety, police said.

One person sustained cuts in the collision and was taken to a hospital, Haddow said.

Puyallup Police Capt. Dan Pashon told KCPQ-TV that a second person was treated at the hospital and released.

City Manager Elizabeth Pauli said the officer involved will be placed on leave. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team will handle the case, Pauli said.

Interim Police Chief Mike Ake released a statement saying he was concerned about another “use of deadly force incident,” and promised his department’s full cooperation in the investigation.