St. Paul officer, robbery suspect hit by car and injured; driver arrested

December 31, 2016 at 5:22PM
St. Paul police were investigating after a driver hit an officer and a robbery suspect Friday night near Selby Avenue and Dale Street. The driver was arrested, authorities said.
St. Paul police were investigating after a driver hit an officer and a robbery suspect Friday night near Selby Avenue and Dale Street. The driver was arrested, authorities said. (Vince Tuss — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

A St. Paul police officer and a robbery suspect were injured late Friday when they were struck by a vehicle driven through an investigation scene by an apparently intoxicated motorist.

Police were investigating a robbery report near Selby Avenue and Avon Street around 8:30 p.m. when the incident occurred.

The officer was talking to the suspect outside a squad car when the vehicle drove by, sideswiping the officer's car and hitting both people, according to police spokesman Steve Linders.

Both were injured, although the officer was able to push the suspect largely out of the way, Linders said.

The vehicle then fled. Officers stopped it near the busy intersection of Selby and Dale Street, which was shut down as they investigated.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, Linders said.

The officer and the suspect were both taken to Regions Hospital. Both were in good condition as of Saturday morning, Linders said.

Beatrice Dupuy

Police activity near Selby and Dale Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in St. Paul, MN.](DAVID JOLES STARTRIBUNE)djoles@startribune.com Police activity near Selby and Dale Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in St. Paul, MN.
St. Paul police worked late Friday at the scene of a hit-and-run near Selby and Dale. An officer and a robbery suspect were injured. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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