Man charged after officer struck by stolen police car

Man charged after officer struck by stolen police car29 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAngus HarronBBC News NI PacemakerInvestigators from the Police Ombudsman Office visited the scene after the incidentA man has been charged with dangerous driving following an incident in which a police officer fired his gun and was also seriously injured when he was hit by a stolen police car in Downpatrick, County Down.The man, 27, has also been charged with driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance and will appear before Downpatrick Magistrates' Court on Monday.He was initially also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, but has since been released unconditionally on that count.However, police say another man, aged 36, has now been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated vehicle taking causing injury.And a 27-year-old woman is also in custody after being arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.What happened in the Downpatrick incident?The incident began at about 04:45 BST on Sunday after a vehicle failed to stop for a police in the Fountain Street area of Downpatrick. After that police crew returned to their station, other PSNI colleagues later found the vehicle in the Ballymote Walk area of the town.A man then ran from the vehicle and officers pursued him on foot towards the nearby Colmcille Road."As officers returned to their police car, someone was in the driver's seat - driving erratically and directly towards an officer," said Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones.After the officer discharged one round from his weapon, he was struck by the stolen police car and needed assistance from his colleagues and ambulance staff.The suspect then abandoned the police car and left the scene. The incident unfolded over the course of about 45 minutes.PacemakerA bullet hole was visible in the windscreen of the stolen police car Policing Board Chair, Brendan Mullan, described i...