Update on 11/25/14 — The suspect pleaded guilty to a lesser, misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at an accident scene.
An Alexandria man has been arrested and charged with hitting an Arlington police officer with his SUV after tossing a water bottle at a group of people outside Mister Days in Clarendon.
The alleged incident happened around 2:00 a.m. this past Saturday.
“Officers witnessed a SUV stop in front of Mr. Days bar and throw a water bottle out of the vehicle at other patrons,” said an Arlington County Police Department crime report. “The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed, struck a median and was driving recklessly before stopping at a traffic light.”
Foot patrol officers chased down the SUV and, standing on either side of the vehicle, ordered the driver to get out, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
The driver “acknowledged their presence and chose to ignore their commands,” said Sternbeck, then “accelerated forward and knocked over the officer with the side of his vehicle” in an attempt to flee.
The officer was knocked to the ground and rolled several times, but only suffered minor injuries. Police caught up with the accused driver, 27-year-old Evan Rowland, in Alexandria. He was arrested and charged with Malicious Bodily Injury to a Law Enforcement Officer.
Photo courtesy ACPD