Police are still looking for the ATV driver who struck an anti-gang cop in Brooklyn on Sunday, dragging him 190 feet. Police have released video of the suspect; the blurry video shows the ATV whizzing down the street:
A pair of on-duty police officers, in an unmarked car, saw the yellow Yamaha and its driver weaving in and out of traffic and riding on the sidewalk at Pitkin Avenue and Lincoln Avenue on Sunday afternoon. So they turned on the car's lights and sirens and stopped the driver. But when they got out to speak with him, the driver took off and hit one of the officers, who then clutched the front handlebar area. The officer was dragged 190 feet before getting knocked to the ground; the ATV driver drove over the cop's left leg as he fled.
The injured officer is in stable condition, but his spine was fractured and nose was broken. He also suffered bruising to the face and road rash. A witness told the Daily News, "I looked out my window and I saw a cop on the ground, bleeding from his face." Another resident in the area complained about motorcycle gangs in the neighborhood, "They come up around on Saturday and Sunday and drive all around here. And sometimes they go on the sidewalk."
Police Commissioner Bratton said of the police officer, "He’s very lucky to be alive, being quite frank with you," and added, "It was an overt attempt to murder that officer by swerving into traffic and attempting to basically get the officer off that ATV."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.
Update: The police just released a sketch of the ATV driver:
The suspect was wearing a black helmet with white skulls and a black jacket.
