NYPD Searching For Suspects After Driver Strikes Officer During Traffic Stop On FDR Drive
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A chaotic scene played out on Manhattan's east side Thursday night, where police say a driver struck an NYPD officer during a traffic stop on the FDR Drive.
ADVISORY: Due to an ongoing police investigation, the FDR Highway south of 23rd Street in Manhattan is TEMPORARILY closed. Please avoid the area. Expect heavy traffic and residual delays in the area. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/Ecvn1vLVOu
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 1, 2019
Police say two officers attempted to stop a black BMW on the busy highway in upper Manhattan round 9 p.m.
When the officers exited their vehicle to confront the driver, police say the driver tried to flee. At that point, the driver backed up and struck one of the officers.
The officers opened fire on the suspect's vehicle as it sped away, according to police. It wasn't immediately clear if the suspect was hit, but police say the vehicle was found abandoned on the FDR Drive near Houston Street with its back passenger window blown out by gunfire.
The officer was rushed to NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue with minor injuries.
It wasn't immediately clear why the officers initially tried to stop the driver.
Southbound lanes of the FDR Drive were temporarily closed south of 23rd Street as the NYPD's Emergency Services Unit searched the area for at least one dangerous suspect.