Home / Crime and Justice / Car Strikes Officer at Charlotte Street Takeover
Car Strikes Officer at Charlotte Street Takeover
4 Mar
Summary
- Woman charged with felony assault for striking an officer with her car.
- Incident occurred during a street takeover event outside a grocery store.
- Injured officer was hospitalized after being hit by the fleeing vehicle.
A street takeover event in Charlotte resulted in a police officer being struck by a vehicle and hospitalized. The incident occurred on Sunday, March 1, around 3:25 a.m. outside a Harris Teeter on Smith Farm Road, where multiple callers reported vehicles engaged in dangerous stunts. Responding officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department attempted to disperse the crowd.
As officers worked to clear the parking lot, one approached a black Kia Optima driven by Tanaezah Michelle Austin. Court documents state Austin stopped her vehicle initially. However, as the uniformed officer walked in front of the car to speak with her, Austin accelerated, hitting the officer and causing him to roll over the hood.
Despite being struck, the injured officer was able to broadcast the vehicle's license plate, which led to Austin's identification and subsequent arrest. She was booked into the Mecklenburg County jail on March 2, charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government officer. Austin was later released on March 3 after posting a $3,000 bond.
