Trio Phoenix police officers injured after car hits them, crashes into gas station
Driver slams into Phoenix Police officers
Trio Phoenix police officers injured after car crashes into gas station
Posted: Sep thirteen 2016 04:33AM MST
Updated: Sep fourteen 2016 09:24AM MST
Picture Gallery seven PHOTOS
PHOENIX (KSAZ) – Shocking movie: a driver targeting Phoenix Police officers — running them down outside a valley Quik Journey gas station near 25th Avenue and Camelback Road on Tuesday morning.
It’s hard to witness — the surveillance movie shows the moment a man drove his car towards three police officers at the QT. You can see his car speeding through the parking lot — one of the officers went flying through the air.
For one of those officers, it was his very first day on the job. Two of them ended up in a hospital. The third officer was able to arrest the suspect. They are all expected to be OK.
The suspect is now facing attempted murder and aggravated onslaught charges.
In the surveillance movie’s lower left corner, you can see a crimson car drive through. In the lower right corner, it picks up speed — heading right towards the three officers.
“These officers could have lightly been killed and I thank God that we are not planning three funerals right now,” said Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner.
Police say 44-year-old Marc LaQuon Payne aimed at the officers and stepped on the gas, plowing into them — sending a 33-year-old officer on his very first day on the job cartwheeling through the air.
His sergeant was trapped underneath the vehicle with a cracked gam. The car just missed another officer. He ran up and commenced battling with Payne, along with the rookies.
“Unbelievable.. our officer hits glass, gets back up, takes suspect in custody, runs over us, still fights with us as we attempt to take him into custody,” said Yahner.
It took a Taser, but they ultimately subdued him.
“We have all heard about officers ambushed across the nation, but this happened here in Phoenix, to your Phoenix Police officers.. it is unacceptable,” said Yahner.
The officers’ names have not been released. The 41-year-old sergeant is now home with a cracked gam. The 33-year-old rookie officer remains hospitalized with non-life menacing head injuries. A 36-year-old officer sustained minor injuries after fighting with the suspect.
Police believe Payne was impaired at the time of the attack, which they believe was intentional.
FOX ten was there as Payne was brought into jail. He kept quiet as reporters asked him questions, but now we’re learning more about his past.
Chief Yahner calls the suspect’s deeds intentional, cowardly and unacceptable. And it turns out, Payne has a history of attacking Phoenix Police officers.
Payne was arrested in one thousand nine hundred ninety seven for assaulting three officers. According to court paperwork, officers pulled him over during a traffic stop. He had a warrant out for his arrest. When officers attempted to take him into custody, he fought — elbowing and kicking them.
He cut a deal in that case and was put on probation.
Almost twenty years later, Payne is in jail for attacking three officers again, only this time, he’s facing attempted murder charges.
Marc L Payne was booked into MCSO Jail by Phoenix Pd after he struck three PPD Officers with his vehicle at a QT pic.twitter.com/kzpfTStsTT
Marc L Payne previously arrested for assaulting three Phoenix officers in 1997. Now faces attempt murder #fox10phoenix pic.twitter.com/qiaxWPdAAB
Injuries: 1)Sgt – cracked gam Two)Ofc – minor injury Trio)Ofc – head injury, very first day on job. Suspect – 44yo Marc Payne custody. #fox10phoenix