Cedar Rapids officer hit with car after chase, suspect at large

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police were searching for a suspect Saturday after an officer fired at a fleeing vehicle that had struck and injured the officer in northeast Cedar Rapids, authorities said.

According to a news release, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle at 8:36 p.m. Friday on 32nd Street NE. However, the motorist refused to stop and headed north to Center Street NE. Police did not disclose the reason for the attempted traffic stop.

The chase was short in part because Center Street NE currently dead-ends for construction. With the chase apparently over, the officer got out of the squad car to confront the driver of the stopped vehicle. But, according to the news release, the driver spun the vehicle around and accelerated, hitting the officer.

The officer then fired at the vehicle but was unable to stop it. The fleeing motorist drove to the end of 34th Street NE and stopped, then ran away. Police did not say how many times the officer fired or whether the motorist had been struck.

The officer sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from a hospital, according to police. The officer’s identity was being withheld during the investigation.

Police said the suspect remains at large. Police are asking those with information to contact the Cedar Rapids Police Department at (319) 286-5491.