By Police1 Staff
OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Police are searching for a second suspect after an officer was intentionally hit by a car.
The officer, a veteran with over 25 years experience, pulled over a vehicle for a minor traffic violation Monday when another driver intentionally struck him, Police Spokesman Tom Bussey told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Witness Toni Lessard told NBC San Diego that the officer was unconscious, but came to and was awake and breathing when he was transported to the hospital. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, he later underwent surgery. No other details were available.
The driver and passenger in the vehicle that struck the officer fled and abandoned their car shortly after. Witnesses helped police take one suspect into custody. It’s unclear if the detained suspect was the driver or the passenger.
Authorities are still searching for the second suspect. Police said he is a black man last seen wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and flip flops.
Bussey said the crash is being investigated as attempted murder.