A new dashcam video surfaced this week showing graphic footage of an Arizona police officer intentionally hitting an armed robber with his patrol car.
The now viral video was recorded on Feb. 19 by dashcams of two Marana police vehicles, according to CNN. The cams captured officer Michael Rapiejko running into suspect Mario Valencia as he was walking down a road about a half hour from Tucson with a rifle in hand.
Valencia, 36, allegedly robbed a 7-11 that morning with a metal object and an hour later he set fire to a church, which he was charged with arson of an occupied structure.
Next he broke into a home and then stole a car, which he drove to a local Wal-Mart to steal a .30-.30 rifle, according to CNN. He quickly left the store before being spotted by police in a park walking down a district road.
The officer who first responded, Lt. Tim Brunenkant of Marana police, followed the suspect until he fired his gun at once into the air.
"Alright, one round just went off into the sky. It's definitely unlocked now. It's definitely loaded," the officer said into his radio. "Have units be prepared."
About eight seconds later in the video a second patrol vehicle, being driven by Rapiejko, runs into Valencia sending him flying into the air.
The suspect survived and was later hospitalized before being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of armed robbery and unlawful discharge of a firearm, among other charges.
A witness defended Rapiejko's actions on Wednesday, saying that if the officer didn't act there's a good chance a gunfight could have broken out.
"If they got into a gunfight, there would have been rounds flying all over the place," said witness David Lightfoot, according to ABC News.
Valencia's attorney, Michelle Cohen Metzger, didn't seem to agree with Lightfoot.
"My client's back was turned and the officer drove right into him," she said, according to CNN. "It isn't that dissimilar to a police officer shooting a fleeing suspect in the back."
Rapiejko will not be charged for his role in the incident.
The video below is extremely graphic and viewer discretion is advised.
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