Police shoot, kill suspect who struck, dragged officer with car

SAN JOSE >> Police shot and killed a man who struck and dragged an officer with an allegedly stolen vehicle and pinned him against another vehicle while trying to flee an East San Jose carport Saturday afternoon, police told this news organization.

The suspect was pronounced dead at a hospital after the incident on Kollmar Drive near Story Road, authorities said. The officer who was hit by the car was taken to a hospital, where he was being treated for broken bones. San Jose police described his injuries as serious but said he is expected to survive.

San Jose police officers were investigating a report of a stolen car at the site and made contact with a man alone inside a vehicle at the carport just before 1 p.m., according to police.

“Three officers blocked in the stolen vehicle and gave the suspect commands,” police said. “The suspect did not comply with their commands and rammed his vehicle into a patrol car.”

The man then drove his vehicle at one of the officers who had initially gotten out of the way, according to police. As the vehicle sped toward the officer, police opened fire at the driver, but the vehicle knocked down the officer and dragged him about 10 feet before pinning him against another vehicle, police said.

The violent confrontation lasted just a few seconds, according to police. Police said all three officers shot at the driver, who was hit by at least one bullet. The two other officers involved in the shooting were not injured, police said.

The identity of the suspect will be released by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office after the office confirms his identity and notifies next of kin, police said.

The shooting is the second involving a San Jose police officer this year. An officer fatally shot a suspect who hijacked a UPS truck and later ran toward police and civilians while carrying a shotgun in February.

The three officers will be placed on routine paid administrative leave, police said. The department’s homicide unit and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office are conducting a joint criminal investigation, and the case is being monitored by the department’s internal affairs unit, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Independent Police Auditor, police said.

San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia will provide a statement to the media at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, police said.