New Orleans Police Officer, Deputy Injured in Hit-and-Run in French Quarter

A man doing doughnuts in a Chevrolet Camaro in the French Quarter Friday night struck two law enforcement officers as they tried to arrest him.
When the officers tried to stop him, "the driver accelerated and intentionally struck both an NOPD officer and an Orleans Parish Sheriff's deputy," the NOPD said.
The officer sustained head injuries was taken to the hospital, where he was stable as of Saturday morning. The deputy was treated at the scene.
Officers followed the Camaro to a parking garage in the 300 block of Canal street, where they located the Camaro and its alleged driver, 23-year-old Mark Hunter Jr.

NEW ORELANS -- A Belle Chasse man doing doughnuts in a Chevrolet Camaro in the French Quarter Friday night struck two law enforcement officers as they tried to arrest him, sending one to the hospital, the New Orleans Police Department said.

Just before midnight, officers patrolling the Quarter on foot spotted the car spinning out and driving recklessly near Conti and Bourbon streets. When they tried to stop him, "the driver accelerated and intentionally struck both an NOPD officer and an Orleans Parish Sheriff's deputy," the NOPD said.

The officer sustained head injuries was taken to the hospital, where he was stable as of Saturday morning. The deputy was treated at the scene.

Officers followed the Camaro to a parking garage in the 300 block of Canal street, where they located the Camaro and its alleged driver, 23-year-old Mark Hunter Jr.

Hunter was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the crash and was treated then booked into the Orleans Justice Center at around 7 a.m., jail records show. The NOPD said Hunter was booked on charges related to reckless driving and hitting the office and deputy, though booking charges were not available later Saturday because the Sheriff's Office website was not working.

The Sheriff's Office did not respond to requests for information on any additional charges.

The NOPD did not provide an update on the hospitalized officer's condition and did not immediately respond to a request late Saturday afternoon for more information.

"Our thoughts are with the injured officer, their loved ones, and the entire NOPD family," Sheriff Susan Hutson said in a social media post. "We're thankful our deputies were able to assist and proud of the courage shown by all those who step up in moments of crisis."

In Feb. 2018, Louisiana State Police linked Hunter, then 17, to a 150-participant dirt bike and ATV "rideout" that shut down Interstate 10 in New Orleans on Mardi Gras after he posted about his participation on social media. Hunter and others were booked on charges including aggravated obstruction of a highway.