Dash-cams capture Arizona police car plowing into robbery suspect
On Tuesday, the Marana, Arizona, police department released dashboard-camera footage of a Feb. 19 incident in which a police cruiser rammed into an armed robbery suspect at high speed, sending him flying into the air. The suspect, 36-year-old Mario Valencia, survived the crash. The police officer driving the car, Michael Rapiejko, was put on administrative leave but is now back on the job after the Pima County Attorney's Office cleared him of wrongdoing, The Associated Press reports.
According to Marana police Sgt. Chris Warren, Valencia first robbed a convenience store in nearby Tucson, then broke into a church and a home, before stealing a car and driving it to a Walmart, where he stole the rifle he was carrying when he was hit. The video below shows the incident from two angles, and AP stops the clip before it shows anything too gruesome. —Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published