A Phoenix man with a history of assaulting officers faces multiple attempted murder charges after police allege he intentionally rammed his car into three police officers outside of a local convenience store early Tuesday.
The three Phoenix Police officers were investigating near a police vehicle just outside of the front door of a QuikTrip gas station near 25th Avenue and Camelback Road around 2 a.m. when Marc Laquon Payne allegedly rammed his sedan into the men, striking two, KPHO reports.
At Payne’s arraignment, the prosecutor alleged the “cold and calculated” attack came after he watched the officers for four minutes.
Police believe Payne may have been intoxicated during the incident, according to AZ Central.
The officers “were victims of an unprovoked, violent, intentional attack,” Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner said. “These officers could have easily been killed, and I thank God we’re not planning three funerals right now.”
A video of the incident shows the vehicle plow into the three officers, who were standing alongside a police patrol SUV at the front entrance of the QT station. One of the officers jumped out of the way before the collision, but the other two were struck by the car, which sent one of the officers flying through the front windows of the gas station.
The vehicle also crashed through the front of the store, where the officer who was tossed in the crash subdued Payne, police said. It was the officer’s first day on the job, KPNX reports.
“Jeremy … first day on the squad, gets propelled into that glass, has the gumption to get up get back in the fight and take this guy into custody,” a police spokesman explained while narrating a video of the attack for KPNX. “Unbelievable. He’s a hero.”
“I’m very proud of the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department, and I’m outraged by this incident,” Yahner told AZ Central. “Our Phoenix police officers were targeted.”
Jeremy, the 33-year-old officer who just joined the force, suffered a head injury, while a 41-year-old sergeant suffered a broken leg. The third officer, who jumped out of the way, was not struck by the vehicle but sustained a minor injury, according to the news site.
“Earlier this morning I spoke with two of the three officers injured during last night’s horrific incident outside a Phoenix convenience store. I thanked them for their valor and wished them a speedy recovery. Both indicated that the rookie officer, who was working his first full day on the job and was seriously injured, acted heroically,” Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said in a statement.
“Watching the video and seeing the quick action they took to avoid any loss of life was a stark reminder to thank officers for the bravery they demonstrate every single day. I also spoke with Chief Yahner and I know that he is doing everything he can to ensure the safety of our officers.”
Payne was charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault, the latter charges attributed to the vehicle nearly striking clerks in the store.
According to KPNX:
Court documents show in 1997, Payne pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after resisting arrest and kicking a Phoenix police officer twice in the leg.
According to police, they’d pulled Payne over for expired tags and realized he had outstanding warrants.
Documents show Payne accepted responsibility for the assault and said he struggled with officers because he didn’t want to be “chained up.”
In the documents, police also said Payne was said to be remorseful.
After successfully completing probation, the charge was downgraded to a misdemeanor.
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