After hitting a Chicago police officer with his pickup truck before authorities opened fire early on Saturday on the city’s Northwest Side, a Hammond man has been charged with attempted murder.
After being taken into custody, 28-year-old Carlos Sanchez-Roa was charged with three counts: aggravated assault to a peace officer, aggravated battery to a peace officer, and attempted first-degree murder.
The allegations are related to an incident that occurred about 2:10 a.m. when officers were sent to a business in the 3100 block of North Central Avenue after receiving reports of gunfire and a battery in progress.
Police were led to a red pickup truck by an employee who reported that someone had fired a gun amid a big altercation. When officers walked up to the truck and told the driver to get out, the suspect allegedly disregarded their orders and instead accelerated, colliding with one of the officers.
As the truck drove away, officers opened fire on it. Later, the car and Sanchez-Roa, who had been shot, were discovered in the 3200 block of North Menard Avenue. He was sent in critical condition to Illinois Masonic Hospital.
A gun was discovered inside the truck, according to the police.
It is still unknown what caused the first altercation outside the company, and authorities have not given an update on the officer’s health.
On Monday, Sanchez-Roa was supposed to show up for a detention hearing.
The police shooting is being looked into by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA).
