Lincoln Police say an officer shot a man who rammed a cruiser and tried to run over an officer early Tuesday afternoon. Acting Police Chief Michon Morrow says it all began in the parking lot of the Microtel at 25th and Fairfield over the noon hour.
She says the officer pulled in behind an orange Jeep and tried to make contact with the driver, now identified as 35-year-old Garret Hanika. “The driver puts his vehicle into reverse an accelerates rapidly and hits the cruiser.” She says the officer was able to get out of the way. Morrow says the driver then accelerated again and drove toward the officer, who was able to avoid being hit.
She says the officer then fired his gun at the Jeep. The driver was wounded and was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Morrow says during the incident, a 39-year-old female passenger got out of the vehicle. During a second forward acceleration, the driver of the vehicle ran over that female passenger. She had to be extricated from underneath the Jeep by emergency personnel. She was taken to a local hospital by Lincoln Fire & Rescue (LFR) with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
She says thankfully the officer was not hurt. The officer who shot the suspect was not injured and has been put on paid administrative leave which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting. The name of the officer will be released at a later date.
Crime scene investigators continue to review video evidence and interview witnesses. Those with information can call our non-emergency number at 402-441-6000 or if you would like to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.
