Suspect shot, officer hit by vehicle in wake of illegal drag racing
An Upper Darby man faces charges in Philadelphia stemming from an incident in which police allege he struck a police officer with his car while attempting to flee.
Philadelphia police say Quron Banks, 22, has been charged with aggravated assault, causing a catastrophe, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and other offenses, according to information reported by CBS News.
The chain of events started at 11 :15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, when Philadelphia police were called to respond to an illegal “car meet-up” at a Target parking lot at 4000 Monument Road. Police said several cars were leaving the lot, while others were still in the lot, drag racing and doing doughnuts.
Among the cars leaving was Banks red Camaro, which police recognized as having taken part in previous meetups. Police attempted to pull Banks over, but he fled on I-76 east.
At about 2 a.m., officers assigned to the Car Meet Detail saw the red Camaro park on the south side of Master Street facing westbound toward 9th Street in North Philly.
The officers called for backup and attempted to stop Banks. According to police, once the officer pulled up alongside the passenger side of the Camaro, Banks went into reverse toward a marked police wagon and struck a patrol vehicle twice as he attempted to flee 9th and Master streets.
Two officers inside the wagon left the vehicle while Banks was reversing, which led to one of them being struck by the Camaro. Police said the officer fell and hit her head.
A police officer then shot his firearm one time and struck Banks' passenger's side window as the 22-year-old fled the scene.
Police called off pursuit to avoid endangering the public.
Police said Banks was eventually found inside Mercy-Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his neck.
The 36-year-old officer who was struck by Banks was taken to Jefferson Methodist Hospital and placed in stable condition, police said. She has since been released from the hospital.
The 35-year-old officer who fired his weapon has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
