The police officer was not identified in the police statement.
Some of the protesters on Sunday night blocked the streets with signs and traffic cones near where the incident occurred. Others dropped trash cans and set the contents on fire, while some smashed car and building windows. Authorities are still working to assess the damage, Haddow said in an email to CNN.
According to Haddow, South Sound 911 Records employees had to be evacuated from their building after the windows were broken on Sunday night.
No arrests were made during the protest, but two people were arrested before the protest, Haddow said.
The policeman drove through the crowd after being surrounded, police said
Once at the scene, police found several vehicles and about 100 people blocking the intersection, which they began to clean “for the safety of the assembled and the people trying to use the street,” the statement said.
“He was afraid that his glass would be broken,” she said, prompting him to move away from the scene quickly, the News Tribune reported.
Lights and sirens were activated as the crowd continued to surround the vehicle, the statement said. The policeman in the SUV tried to back up, but according to the statement he was unable to because of the crowd.
“Fearing for his safety,” the statement said, “the officer went forward striking one individual and may have impacted others”, while trying to get out of the “unsafe position”. Since the officer was “in a safe spot”, he asked for medical help, the statement said.
The News Tribune reported that a person suffered a laceration from the collision and was transported to a local hospital.
The videos show the driver driving through the crowd
In at least one graphic video of the incident circulating on social media, the police vehicle with lights and sirens on can be seen slowly approaching the crowd gathered in front of the vehicle.
An engine is heard spinning in the background and the vehicle backs up before accelerating through the crowd, knocking several people to the ground.
The vehicle then slows down a little, as it seems to bounce when passing over something, before continuing through the intersection. The vehicle’s rear tires can be seen rolling over someone lying on the street.
A second video shot on the scene shows a white car making donuts in the middle of the intersection and leaving as soon as the police arrive, moments before the police vehicle is seen passing through the crowd.
In another video, the sound of a spinning engine is followed by a series of thuds and an individual exclaiming twice: “Damn, they’re hitting a police car”.
Moments later, an engine is heard spinning again and people fan out and start shouting, “Oh my God! Oh my God!” repeatedly. A few seconds later, a smaller crowd is seen forming around what appears to be someone lying on the floor.
Mayor wants those involved to be held accountable
“As a use of deadly force, this incident is being taken very seriously and the scene has been properly handed over to the Pierce County Force Investigation Team for independent investigation,” said the mayor.
“While we wait for more information, I want the community to know that I am deeply concerned and praying for everyone who was impacted by last night’s events,” said Woodards. “I continue to take pride in Tacoma’s longstanding reputation as a place of strong, non-violent advocacy and activism.”
The mayor asked the mayor and the police chief to hold all those involved in the incident responsible.
Tacoma city manager Elizabeth Pauli told CNN KING affiliate on Sunday that the videos she watched of the incident were “horrible”.
“I was horrified, these videos are very difficult to watch,” said Pauli. “I am concerned about being run over. I am concerned for those who witnessed that event. I am concerned for our police officers who are involved ”.
Acting police chief Mike Ake said in a press release “I am concerned that our department is experiencing another incident of the use of lethal force.”
“I send my ideas to everyone who was injured at tonight’s event and I am committed to our Department’s full cooperation in independent investigation and in evaluating the actions of the department’s response during the incident,” said Ake.
Carma Hassan, Claudia Dominguez and Artemis Moshtaghian from CNN contributed to this report.