By Police1 Staff
AURORA, Colo. — When an Aurora police officer stopped to assist what he thought was a stranded motorist, he ended up with his head sliced open and his cruiser stolen, NBC News reported.
The attack was described as “vicious” and “unprovoked” by Aurora Police Chief Nicholas Metz in a news conference attended by the news site.
“I have absolutely no qualms in believing that this suspect meant to kill our officer,” Metz said to NBC.
The incident occurred Nov. 30 when the officer spotted a vehicle on the side of the road and went to assist. As the officer returned to his patrol vehicle, the driver “tackled him from behind and struck him with a sharp object,” Lt. Scott Torpen told NBC reporters.
“Honestly, we have no idea why this attack took place,” Torpen said in his interview. “There was no reason for it. Our officer simply stopped to help a citizen out, to render aid.”
The suspect then stole the cruiser — with its emergency lights still on — and took off. The injured officer fired at the suspect as he drove off but missed. The officer sent responding officers in the direction of the stolen patrol vehicle.
The suspect led police on a pursuit until one cruiser made a PIT maneuver and caused the stolen patrol vehicle to spin out. The suspect then fled the car with an object in his right hand that he refused to drop, despite multiple commands from officers.
Police fired several rounds and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The officer was cut along his forehead and scalp. The officer remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
Neither the suspect nor the officer have been identified.