WA Officer Drives Through Crowd After Patrol Vehicle Mobbed

A Tacoma, WA, police officer responding to a type of street racing event known as a "side show" in a downtown intersection was mobbed in his vehicle and drove through the crowd Saturday night. Two people in the crowd were hospitalized.

Tacoma police spokeswoman Wendy Haddow told the News Tribune the officer sped out of the scene for his own safety, fearing that the crowd might break the vehicle’s windows and hurt him.

The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team is investigating the incident as a deadly use of force.

A protest broke out Sunday night over the incident. Some buildings were damaged. Two people were arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary.