Atlantic City Cop, Dog Hit By Teen Driving Stolen Vehicle: Police

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — A police officer and his K-9 partner suffered minor injuries Tuesday night after being struck by a stolen car fleeing a motor vehicle stop, police said.

Detectives Christopher Dodson, Alberto Valles and Eric Evans saw a Ford Fusion around 9 p.m. that was previously reported stolen after it fled an attempted traffic stop earlier that day, according to Atlantic City police.

The detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop at New Jersey and Baltic Avenues assisted by Officer Anthony Grajales-Prado and K-9 Chase.

The vehicle’s passenger, Najaye Cooper-Albright, 18, exited the vehicle and attempted to run away, police said. Detective Dodson quickly apprehended Cooper-Albright who resisted arrest before being taken into custody.

The driver, Kasauhn Carpenter, 18, ignored commands from the officers and sped toward Grajales-Prado and Chase, police said.

Grajales-Prado was struck by the vehicle and landed on the hood of the car before he was thrown off. Chase was also struck, police said. Both sustained minor injuries.

State Police troopers from the Atlantic City Expressway Station found and arrested Carpenter on Route 42. He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault by auto, eluding and hindering apprehension. He was taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Cooper-Albright was charged with obstruction of justice, unlawful taking of means of conveyance and resisting arrest. He was released on a summons pending a future court date.

Grajales-Prado was taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Division and has since been released.

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