National Park Service shoots suspect after he crashes into their patrol vehicle
By: -----
Page, AZ - Federal officials have released body-worn camera footage showing National Park Service officers firing several gunshots after their truck was hit by a suspect's vehicle on May 3 in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The video footage captures NPS officers attempting to make contact with a driver before the situation escalated to gun violence. The incident was reported along Highway 89 near the Arizona-Utah border.
In the video, officers are seen trying to talk to a man in a truck before the motorist drives off. The two officers get back in their vehicle and follow the man as he heads toward Page.
According to NPS, the man then made a U-turn on Highway 89 and "swerved towards" the patrol vehicle.
"Don't let him hit us, dude," one officer is heard saying in the video.
The suspect then allegedly made another U-turn and then crashed into the driver's side of the patrol vehicle.
The body cameras captured the truck's airbags being deployed as the officers exit the truck and begin firing several gunshots at the suspect. One of the officers fired several shots through the patrol truck's windshield.
"Shots fired, shots fired near the 'Welcome to Arizona' sign," one of the officers is heard saying in the footage.
Several more officers eventually responded to the scene. After about 45 minutes of negotiations, the suspect surrendered and was taken to the hospital in Page for a gunshot injury. The suspect was later taken to the Coconino County jail and is facing an assault charge, according to the federal agency.
The two NPS officers were treated for minor injuries and released.