By Joe Dwinell, Mark Garfinkel and Samantha Tatro
Boston Herald
BOSTON — A South Boston man is facing charges and two police officers are recovering from injuries after a man stole a police cruiser and tried to mow down an officer — twice — during a wild getaway attempt early yesterday, police said.
Wilfredo Rodriguez, 37, of South Boston faces charges of assault and battery by means of dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, breaking and entering of a motor vehicle at night and larceny of a motor vehicle, police said. He will be arraigned tomorrow in South Boston District Court.
Police first responded to a call for breaking and entering at 3:26 a.m. on Baxter Street in South Boston. Rodriguez sprinted away when police arrived, Superintendent in Chief Daniel Linskey told the Herald.
Rodriguez then circled back and jumped into a Boston police cruiser that was left running, Linskey said.
Police opened fire on the car due to “imminent danger,” as Rodriguez tried to run down a cop according to police, and at least one officer fired multiple rounds.
“It appears he (Rodriguez) struck an officer in the process of doing that ... and attempted to run over the officer a second time,” Linskey said of the terrifying showdown.
Rodriguez took off down Old Colony Avenue in the cop car and was quickly cornered by police outside the JFK MBTA station and was arrested.
Two officers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Linskey said.
The case remains under investigation. Linskey said one or two officers fired at the cruiser after it was stolen. The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office is also investigating, as it does in all cases in which an officer uses deadly or potentially deadly force, said DA spokesman Jake Wark.
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