Driver arrested after hitting Seattle officer with car

Seattle police have arrested a 22-year-old man who hit a parked car in Lake City Wednesday afternoon, passed out, and after being awakened by officers, put his car in gear and sped off, hitting an officer in the leg.

Just before 2 p.m., police responded to a report of a collision on the 11500 block of 30th Avenue Northeast. When they arrived, they found the suspect "slumped over" in a gray Jeep Cherokee with the engine still running, said department spokesman Jeff Kappel.

The suspect failed to comply with an officer who was standing near the car, Kappel said. That's when the suspect hit the officer with his Jeep and fled.

Around 7:30 p.m., other officers in the North Precinct who were aware of the incident spotted the Jeep at Northeast 135th Street and 39th Avenue Northeast, Kappel said.

So they followed him. When the suspect realized what was happening, he got out of the car and started running, Kappel said.

A foot chase ensued, and the suspect was caught about 10 to 12 minutes later on the 13700 block of 35th Avenue Northeast.

The Jeep was impounded, and police plan to book the man for assault of an officer, a hit-and-run motor-vehicle collision and narcotics violations, Kappel said.

The officer who was hit was admitted to an area hospital for minor injuries to his leg.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com