Trenton police detective struck, injured; suspect arrested after chase identified

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Trenton police detective is recovering from minor injuries after being struck by a motorist who led officers on a chase before crashing in Hamilton Township.

The incident began around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Chestnut and Walnut Avenues in Trenton.

Police say detectives on patrol noticed a vehicle stopped in the road.

When the detectives approached, police say, the driver, identified as 23-year-old Jeremiah Sanchez, drove at them, hitting one of the detectives.

Police opened fire as Sanchez, striking him in the neck and arm.

He fled the scene in the vehicle.

Police pursued him into Hamilton Township.

The chase ended after police say Sanchez hit several parked cars in the 1700 block of East State Street.

"I heard like a big crash and I came outside and I seen a car in the street and it was turned sideways. All the cops got out of the car and was pointing a gun at the guy telling him to get out of the car," witness Alonzo Simmons of Hamilton, NJ said.

Sanchez was taken into custody and transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in stable condition.

The detective who was struck by Sanchez's vehicle was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton, where he was treated and released.

The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit are heading up the investigation.