MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) — A man is on the run after running over a Memphis Police Officer. The incident was sparked by unpaid parking tickets. Things heated up when the man was about to get his car towed Thursday morning near Second and Court in downtown Memphis. Instead of letting the officer do his job, the guy hopped in his car and pulled off, actually hitting the officer.
"Some people think they're above the law and they're not. Simple fact is the guy was in the wrong and he shouldn't have left,” said tow truck driver for Boyd’s Wrecker Service, Joey Smith.
He saw the man who sped away after refusing to pay his unpaid fines. Smith was trying to tow the car but the driver wasn't having it.
"The officer told him to get out of the car and he refused,” Smith said. “The officer leaned over into the car to either cut the car off or contain him and he drove off. When he drove off, the door flew back and hit the officer."
Police say the suspect had 6 unpaid tickets. The man argued with the officer saying he paid them already but the officer said those were for other vehicles. The police officer is ok but it could've been much worse.
"He was doing his job like everyday and he could've staggered back into traffic and an oncoming car could've run over him," said Smith.
Smith says police officers risk their lives everyday. He says the towing business can be dangerous too, but people need to keep their cool.
"Anybody with any common sense would know you do not drive off. I don't care if you're a lawyer or who you are.”
MPD has not released the name of the suspect because he hasn't been charged, saying it's an ongoing investigation.
