An Independence police officer suffered a broken leg this morning after he was struck by a police car during a pursuit.
Shortly after midnight authorities were called to 18th and Cedar streets to investigate a reported drive-by shooting. An officer attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle, but the driver continued driving as the occupants tossed items out of the vehicle.
The car chase ended when the suspect struck a power pole at Westport Road and Maywood Avenue. Officers continued the chase on foot when three suspects bailed out of the vehicle.
According to Independence police, the injured officer was struck when another officer swerved his vehicle to avoid a third officer who was chasing one of the suspects. The injured officer suffered a broken bone in his left leg.
Authorities arrested one suspect, who was not immediately charged. The other two suspects remain at large.
| Dawn Bormann, dbormann@kcstar.com
