Bismarck, ND –An 11-year veteran of the Bismarck Police Department has walked out of the hospital today after intentionally being struck by an SUV driven by a 53-year-old Bismarck woman.
Central Dakota Communications received a call around 12:07 pm today regarding a woman in a white SUV acting intoxicated or high. Two Bismarck Police Officers, an 11-year veteran and 6-year veteran, arrived at the parking lot in the 1100 block of S 12th St around 12:14 pm. The 11-year officer spoke to the woman at the car, while the 6-year officer spoke to witnesses.
Body-Worn Camera revealed that during these interviews, the vehicle driven by the woman attempted to leave and was ordered to stop. She didn’t stop, and swerved at the 11-year veteran officer, nearly striking him. She then backed up, and looked as though she was going to exit the parking lot and flee. She did not leave the parking lot, she swerved at the officers, striking the 11-year veteran which threw him up and over a snowbank.
Officers fired at the vehicle and struck the 53-year-old to protect not only the 11-year veteran officer, but the multiple bystanders in the area as well. After securing the scene, both her and the officer were treated for their injuries. Metro Ambulance Services transported both to a local hospital. The 53-year-old was pronounced dead.
Thankfully, the 11-year veteran officer was able to walk out of the hospital without significant injury.
Both officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation being conducted by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Bismarck Police Department is grateful for the support of the Bismarck Community and will update the public as information is able to be released.
Next of kin notifications have not been completed, so the 53-year-old cannot be identified publicly.