The charges were filed after shots were fired in an attempt to run over a KC police officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A man is facing charges after a weekend shooting near a Kansas City church resulted in the suspect attempting to run over a police officer.

Documents filed in Jackson County, Missouri, District Court show that Manuel R. Mejia, 21, of Kansas City, was charged Sunday, Oct. 13, with assault and fleeing a stop after a stop Weekend shooting suffered severe punishment.

Kansas City, Missouri, police said an officer on patrol responded to reports in the Topping Ave. area on Sunday. and E. 10th St., a block from the Sheffield Family Life Center Assemblies of God, shots were fired. The officer searched the area and attempted to stop a suspicious blue Toyota Highlander. However, the driver, later identified as Mejia, sped away.

Due to the dangerous nature of Mejia’s driving, officers determined that no chase was initiated, but an aerial helicopter was able to track the vehicle. When Mejia stopped at an abandoned house and turned off his headlights, his location was communicated to responding officers. However, he tried to speed away again.

This time, investigators said Mejia rammed a patrol vehicle, causing an officer to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. However, the vehicle bounced off a parked Toyota Camry, which was pushed into the officer.

As Mejia tried to get out of the situation, police officers said he drove so hard that his Toyota became trapped between the patrol car and the Camry. He eventually got out of the car through the sunroof and was taken into custody.

Investigators said they believed Mejia may have been under the influence during the incident and took him to a nearby hospital for blood work and chemical testing. The results are still pending.

Mejia has been behind bars since Thursday on a $75,000 bond. A bond review hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m., and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. No further information was released.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.