Officer injured struck while attempting to stop carjacking in the Bronx, partner fired at suspects
SOUNDVIEW, Bronx (WABC) -- The search continues for four people wanted for a carjacking and a hit-and-run that injured a police officer in the Bronx.
Video shows police officers surrounding a black Mercedes after it crashed into a Subaru around 10:20 p.m. on Sunday.
The NYPD says officers in a marked van were trying to stop the car after the owner reported it had been carjacked.
Instead of surrendering, the driver stepped on the gas and struck an officer.
Her partner then opened fire, police say, before the sedan crashed into Subaru at Westchester and Elder avenues and the suspects ran off.
Surveillance video from the scene showed how chaotic it was after the incident, with officers running down the street and the injured officer still limping around the intersection.
But this is all part of a major crime wave that seems to be spreading across the city.
"It's getting really, really rough lately," Soundview resident Noel Rodriguez said. "I guess I don't know after COVID, but it's crazy everywhere, everywhere it's crazy!"
Murders and shootings are down in the 43 precincts but just about everything else is spiking.
Robberies are up 61% compared to last year with a 32% increase in stolen vehicles in the area.
And neighbors say they've noticed.
"If police come here more often I think the neighborhood would change but it's a lot of stuff going on in this area," Angie Cruz said. "Maybe the pandemic, we broke so people trying to get money or go crazy because of their situation."
The officer who was struck was taken to Jacobi Hospital to be treated for a leg injury and was released Monday morning.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confidential.
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