By Nicholas Rizzi and Wil Cruz
DNAinfo Staff
BROOKLYN — A police officer was struck and injured by a stolen Mercedes driven by a fleeing suspect in East New York Tuesday, police said.
The wild chase began about 9:30 a.m. when cops stopped the black luxury car at Liberty and Pennsylvania avenues, police and witnesses said.
The driver sped off on Liberty Avenue for a few blocks before coming to an abrupt stop, police said.
"The person gets out of the car but then he gets back in the vehicle, striking the officer," said a police source.
The cop was struck in the leg, police said. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was in stable condition, cops said.
As cops continued their pursuit of the suspect, one of the officers fired a weapon, police said. No one was hit, but it was unclear how many shots were fired, police said.
Meanwhile, witnesses said the suspect drove the Mercedes the wrong way on Sutter Avenue before plowing into a green Dodge Ram van and a Prevost bus.
"All I saw was a black car and the police lights behind him," said bus driver Charlie Williams, 67. "He hit me hard."
The suspect, whom cops haven't identified, kept going until hitting a police cruiser and a lamppost near Dumont Avenue and Powell Street, police and witnesses said.
"I just saw him jump out of the car and that was it," Williams said. "He jetted out of there. It happened so fast.
Cops said the suspect climbed scaffolding on a building in the area and tried to hide out on the roof of a nearby Family Dollar. He was taken into custody a short time later, police said.
He has not been charged, police said.
There were no other injuries, police and fire officials said.
