Phoenix Police Say Driver Rammed Officers In Targeted Attack

Two of the officers suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries and have been transported to a nearby hospital.

A 36-year-old veteran police officer only received minor injuries in the incident. Police called it a “violent, intentional attack”.

This is a violent act on our police officers and it’s simply unacceptable.

“As a Department, we are very fortunate these officers were not killed or more seriously injured”, said Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner.

Three officers were hurt after 44-year-old Marc LaQuon Payne reportedly drove his vehicle at the group, before hitting a patrol auto and the front of the store.

The driver faces three charges of attempted first degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

The department has not named the three officers involved, but identified the one who was run over first as a 41-year-old sergeant with 18 years on the force.

All three were treated in hospital along Payne, who is believed to have been under the influence at the time, AZFamily reports.

The Phoenix police chief Joe Yahner released a graphic video of the moment the vehicle ran into the three officers, sending one of them flying.

The force of the impact sent one of the officers flying into the air and through the store’s window. “… Unbelievable, our officer that hits the front of the glass and smashes the glass, gets back up, engages in a fight to take the suspect in custody”.

I’m outraged by this incident.

The judge had to interrupt state prosecutors as they argued why Payne should not be offered a bond, because Payne was having trouble standing upright during the brief hearing. In the process, he struck two of the three officers, as the third just barely managed to get out of the way. The judge told Payne she considered him to be a “substantial danger to the community”.

A former public defender who represented Payne in that case said she didn’t recall him or the case.

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