MELBOURNE, Fla. – Melbourne police said one person was arrested after one of their officers had to jump out of the way from being run over before leading police on a pursuit.
Police said around 3:37 a.m. Saturday, an officer saw a car speeding on U.S. 1 near Old Colonial Way.
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Police said the officer tried to stop the driver as he pulled into the parking lot of a Kangaroo Express on U. S. 1.
As the vehicle pulled into the parking lot, the driver, later identified as 28-year-old Brandon Culver, jumped into the backseat of the car, forcing the front seat passenger to move into the driver seat and stop the vehicle before it struck the building, police said.
Police said Culver fought with the officer, pushed him, then ran out of the car. The officer chased Culver who eventually made it back to the vehicle, police said.
Culver then attempted to push the passenger out of the vehicle in an attempt to steal the car, police said.
Police said Culver kept yelling at the passenger, who was sitting in the driver seat, to run the officer over, but he refused.
Police said Culver was eventually able to get the vehicle into reverse and push on the gas, forcing the officer to jump out of the way before he was run over.
When Culver drove in reverse, he struck the front of the police cruiser, kicked the passenger out of the car and kept driving into a dead end.
Police said Culver came back and almost hit the officer and the passenger in the car that was being questioned.
Police said Culver swerved at the last minute, narrowly avoiding hitting the detained passenger and officer, and led police on a pursuit up U. S. 1 into Rockledge.
Police said Culver was eventually forced to stop after hitting stop sticks.
Police arrested Culver who was taken to the Brevard County Jail to face a slew of charges including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, violation of probation, reckless driving and many more charges.