Home News Dramatic video released showing police car ramming armed crime spree suspect

Dramatic video released showing police car ramming armed crime spree suspect

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TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – Police released dash cam video showing how a police officer used his cruiser to put an end to a crime spree in February that stretched from Tucson to Marana.

Mario Valencia.  Image credit:  Marana Police Department)
Mario Valencia. Image credit: Marana Police Department)

In the video, an apparent gunshot is heard as the suspect, Mario Valencia, is seen walking down a street.

Then, in a decision that Marana police Chief Terry Rozema says probably saved Valencia’s life, officer Michael Rapiejko drives his cruiser onto the sidewalk and rams Valencia.

Valencia was taken to University of Arizona Medical Center in serious condition. He stayed there two days before being booked into jail.

Rapiejko previously served with the Tucson and New York police departments before joining the Marana police.

Marana police officer Michael Rapiejko.  Image credit:  Marana Police Department
Marana police officer Michael Rapiejko. Image credit: Marana Police Department

According to Marana police, Valencia was fleeing from the Walmart at 8280 N. Cortaro

Road, near I-10, where he allegedly had stolen a rifle at about 9 a.m. on Feb. 19. The pursuit came to an end outside nearby Continental Ranch Self Storage at 5650 W. Coca Cola Place, where Rapiejko hit the suspect with his cruiser. Valencia had already been intercepted by police in the vicinity of the post office at 5800 N. Business Park Drive, where he pointed the rifle at his head multiple times and threatened suicide before fleeing again and firing the gun in another direction.

Read the full story at Tuscon News Now.

 

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1 COMMENT

  1. Not only should this officer get a medal, he should get a new squad car preferably a Camaro or Mustang. Applause!

  2. The cops did a great job. Had he died it would not have been a big deal, he was asking for it. He was walking around with a loaded rifle. Had I been a cop I would have shot him right away, no questions asked.