Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Video Of Washington Police SUV Ramming Into Crowd And Running Over People Prompts Outrage

Video Of Washington Police SUV Ramming Into Crowd And Running Over People Prompts Outrage
@jasonjgothier/Twitter; @libertadsame03/Twitter

A group of cars performing stunts at an intersection in Tacoma, Washington lead to police arriving at the location. It culminated in a police SUV plowing through the crowd of spectators.

Several people were struck and at least one person was run over by the police cruiser.


Saturday's incident was caught on video by bystanders from different vantage points.

One of the videos showed the police vehicle revving its engine and briefly backing up before ramming through the screaming spectators that had surrounded the SUV.

WARNING: Graphic footage.

Other videos showed the stunt cars performing doughnuts before police arrived.

The Tacoma police said they received calls about an erratic driver and street racing happening in the South 900 Block of Pacific Avenue around 6:19 p.m. Officer Wendy Haddow of the Tacoma Police Department said responding officers tried to clear a crowd of around 100 people from the intersection.

A group of people tightened in on a police cruiser at the scene and reportedly began hitting the vehicle's windows.

Haddow said the driving officer feared for his safety which prompted them to ram the crowd and drive away.

According to Q13 FOX, the Pierce County Investigation Team took the lead on the incident.

Interim Police Chief Mike Ake issued a statement saying he was "concerned that our department is experiencing another use of deadly force incident."

He added:

"I send my thoughts to anyone who was injured in tonight's event, and am committed to our Department's full cooperation in the independent investigation and to assess the actions of the department's response during the incident."

Capt. Dan Pashon of the Puyallup Police Department is leading the investigation looking into the officer who was behind the wheel.

Pashon said two people were taken to the hospital and one has since been released.

While he had no updates on the person who was run over by the SUV, he did say it was believed the victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

The disturbing footage left many people shook on Twitter.





According to Buzzfeed News, an eyewitness named Mark said he was out for dinner with friends and went to have a cigarette when he noticed the commotion on the street.

Mark described what he saw.

"It looked like the crowd of people that were involved in the rally ... all swarmed toward the police car, it seemed to stop the car, and give an opportunity for the drivers to get away."

He commented on the crowd's reaction when the SUV plowed forward.

"People were screaming and yelling, 'Tacoma Police just ran someone over!'"

Cory Le, another witness who filmed the chaos, told Reuters:

"People were messing with the cops, yelling at the cops, shouting at the cops, and then the car reversed and drove full speed into the crowd."

One woman on the scene told KIRO-TV:

"I was shocked, I was shaken, I was confused, I was scared. This officer just ran this group of people over and then fled the scene."
"I want justice for the people who just got injured."
About two dozen people who were infuriated by the incident involving the Tacoma Police later gathered at the scene in protest.

At least one person was led away in handcuffs.

The demonstrations continued on Sunday night.



Tacoma Police said the officer behind the wheel was a 58-year-old man who had been with the Tacoma Police Department for nearly 30 years.

The unnamed officer was placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards responded on Sunday with the following statement:

"For those who woke up this morning feeling outrage, frustration, grief, heartbreak, or confusion, I understand and honor your feelings. I, too, am deeply saddened by what we saw last night.
As a use of deadly force, this incident is being taken very seriously and the scene has appropriately been turned over to the Pierce County Force Investigation Team for independent investigation. As we learn the facts of the case, I have called on the City Manager and Police Chief to ensure that everyone involved is held accountable.
While we await more information, I want the community to know that I am deeply concerned and praying for everyone who was impacted by last night's events.
I continue to be proud of Tacoma's long-standing reputation as a place of strong, non-violent advocacy and activism. I continue to support your right to use your voice to advocate and demonstrate peacefully during this time of heightened tension.
I know our community's resiliency continues to be tested. I also know that we are strong and that we will get through this together."

More from Trending

Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Blasted For Announcing New Additions To The White House Lawn As Global Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump was criticized after announcing that two new flagpoles would be added to the North and South Lawns of the White House—not the greatest look amid heightened global unease as tensions between Israel and Iran ramp up.

According to the Associated Press, Trump watched as a crane installed the newest flagpole on the South Lawn, remarking, “It’s such a beautiful pole.” He later returned to the site to salute as the American flag was raised for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump from CNN supercut
CNN

Trump Mocked For 'Two Weeks' Iran Deadline With Supercut Of All His 'Two Weeks' Promises

President Donald Trump has a history of promising to resolve problems within "two weeks," and a new viral supercut mocks him for all the times he's said as much—including right now with tensions in the Middle East higher than ever.

Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing what he called a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson And Ted Cruz Get Into Shouting Match Over Iran In Bonkers Interview Clip

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—a harsh Donald Trump critic-turned-MAGA minion—sat down with fired Fox News personality Tucker Carlson for the conservative influencer's self-produced online content,The Tucker Carlson Show, for the Tucker Carlson Network.

On Tuesday, Carlson shared a 1.5-minute clip revealing that things got contentious when the pair touched on the Trump administration's escalating tensions with Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Barack Obama
Suzanne Plunkett-Pool/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Resurfaced Trump Tweet Criticizing Obama Over Iran Comes Back To Bite Him

Amid tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump was criticized for hypocrisy after social media users resurfaced a 2013 tweet in which he accused former President Barack Obama of planning an attack on Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly."

Trump has declined to clarify whether the U.S. is edging closer to launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a warning from Iran’s supreme leader against any attack and a rejection of Trump’s demand for surrender.

Keep ReadingShow less