Driver under arrest after officer hit while trying to stop car

A Regina man is facing several charges after allegedly hitting a police officer with a car.

On Tuesday, police were called to a retail store in the 2900 block of Gordon Road just after 4 p.m. for a report of a theft.

Police said a man had entered the store, took two jackets from a display and ran out without paying.

Loss prevention officers tried to stop the man from driving away in a Jeep, but were unsuccessful. Police tracked the Jeep to a residence in the 1300 block of Aberdeen Street.

When police arrived, the Jeep was parked at the rear of the property and a man was getting into a black Alero.

Police commanded the man to stop, but he allegedly drove the vehicle forward and hit a police officer.

The man also allegedly hit a police car while fleeing the scene. The officer suffered minor injuries.

On Wednesday, the suspect’s vehicle was spotted by police in the area of 4th Avenue and Pasqua Street. Officers tried to stop the car, but the driver evaded them.

The vehicle was spotted by police again on Thursday at approximately 3:25 p.m., but this time the driver was arrested without incident.

The 36-year-old man has been charged with theft under $5,000, two counts of breach of undertaking, assault a police officer with a weapon and evade police.

The man made his first court appearance on Thursday.

The police officer who was struck by the vehicle has returned to duty.