OCPD Officer Hit By Car Door As Accused Shoplifter Flees Business Parking Lot, Police Say

An Oklahoma City police officer recovered on Wednesday from injuries received following a chase with a shoplifting suspect the night before. According to the crime report, the officer was nearly run over as the suspect made a getaway from a northwest Oklahoma City business.

As holiday shoppers made their final purchases, loss prevention employees at Kohl’s on the Northwest Expressway and Council Road watched for shoplifters. Two officers were called to the store Tuesday night for just that.

Two women were seen on store surveillance cameras allegedly stealing from the business.

“When officers got there the suspects were still inside the store,” said MSgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department. “The officers were able to figure out which vehicle they were in, saw the vehicle in the parking lot.”

The officers ran after the car the suspected thieves were getting in. That was when the confrontation turned dangerous.

As the female officer walked in front of the suspect's car, the driver accelerated in what police said was an attempt to run the officer over.

“The officer had to leap out of the way,” said Knight. “As she was trying to get out of the way the front quarter panel of the car actually struck her, knocking her to the ground. The mirror of the vehicle also struck her in the head as the car went by.”

The car took off towards Northwest Expressway, but police were unsure which direction they went.

Police said the officer had minor injuries to her face and was able to drive herself to Integris Baptist hospital.

Investigators are now in the process of tracking down the hit-and-run driver and her passenger.

“One of them has been identified,” said Knight. “The second one we’re trying to identify. Certainly, anyone who may have witnessed this or knows anything about it we want to hear from them through Crime Stoppers.”

The Crime Stoppers tip line is 405-235-7300.

Police said the women will each face complaints of larceny and assaulting an officer.