Driver Hits St. Pete Officer With Car, Flees Traffic Stop

Updated, 9:36:

The officer injured in Monday's incident has been treated for a mild concussion and was released Tuesday morning, St. Petersburg Police said.

He is identified as Brian Priest, 41, a sworn officer since June 2009.

The two other officers struck Monday night were examined at the scene by paramedics, who determined they did not have any significant injuries, police said.

The passenger who was taken out of the vehicle has been charged with possession of marijuana, police spokesperson Mike Puetz said. He has been identified as Donald Callaway, 26, of St. Petersburg.

The driver of the vehicle remains at large. His identity has still not been released.

Earlier:

Police are looking for a driver who they say drove his car into three officers and a fire rescue truck during a traffic stop on Coquina Key in St. Petersburg on Monday night.

One of the officers had to be taken to a local hospital for examination but did not appear to be seriously injured, St. Petersburg Police said.

The incident happened at the intersection of Neptune Drive and Beach Drive Southeast, where officers and fire department personnel had responded to a vehicle accident that knocked down power lines earlier in the night, according to a police spokesperson. Officers had blocked the streets leading into the area.

Around 8:45 p.m., a silver, four-door sedan approached the intersection "at a high rate of speed and then came to an abrupt stop," police spokesperson Mike Puetz said in a media release. Officers approached the driver "and immediately
detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the interior of the car."

Police ordered the man to shut off his car. They then instructed the driver and his male passenger to get out, "however it appeared both subjects were reluctant to comply," Puetz said.

As officers opened the car's passenger door to help the passenger out, the driver restarted the car, placed it into gear and accelerated forward, striking three officers with the still-open car door and careening into a fire rescue truck parked nearby, according to police.

The vehicle fled before it could be pursued.

The passenger was detained, and police believe they have identified the driver, who they did not name.

The injured officer, who also was not named, was in fair condition at the hospital. The other two officers were uninjured and remained at the scene.

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