Teen in stolen vehicle runs over officer during traffic stop, police say

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A local police officer is expected to make a full recovery after a suspect ran over him twice during a traffic stop.

Atlanta police say the teenage driver of a stolen SUV ran over the officer during a traffic stop.

It happened at Central Villa Drive and Campbellton Road in South Fulton County just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The sergeant had stopped the vehicle after running the license plate.

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Police told Channel 2’s Nicole Carr that the driver sped off when the officer tried to get him out of the car. The SUV door knocked down the officer, and the driver ran over his legs.

The driver fled the scene on Campbleton to 166 going south on I-285 and exiting onto Washington Road in East Point.

The 16-year-old eventually abandoned the vehicle and attempted to run away. He was taken into custody on Hammarskjold Drive.

Police described the teen as a runaway. His name was not released.

The Atlanta police officer who was run over by the teenage driver is identified as Sgt. Andrew Fincher.

He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and is expected to be OK.

Cox Media Group