SPRINGFIELD, Missouri -- A Springfield police officer was seriously injured after he was intentionally struck in front of police headquarters Tuesday morning.
Officers were notified of a white male at the front entrance of the Springfield Police Headquarters at 321 East Chestnut Expressway, causing a disturbance and urinating on the front door, according to a news release.
After the man was asked to leave, he then got into a white SUV, drove away, then circled back through the parking lot, heading toward the front entrance.
He then accelerated directly toward Officer Mark Priebe, who was standing in front of the building. Priebe attempted to get out of the way, but the driver intentionally struck the officer, trapping him under the vehicle. The vehicle continued forward with the officer still trapped and struck a concrete bollard.
A second officer yelled at the driver to stop and get out of the vehicle. When he refused and continued to drive forward, the officer fired shots striking the suspect and stopping the vehicle.
Both Priebe, a 21-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, and the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Jon Tyler Franklin Routh, were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Jon Tyler Franklin Routh.
A fund has been set up by the Springfield Police Department to support the injured officer.
