He did it because, among other things, there were officers ahead who might not have been aware he was coming with the loaded gun. Saved the suspect’s life, ultimately.
Via NYDN:
A former NYPD officer who calls himself Robocop used his police cruiser to ram a rifle-toting suspect on a one-man crime spree, dramatic Arizona police video released Tuesday shows.
Marana Police officer Michael Rapiejko was hailed a hero by his chief after the department released the dramatic footage Tuesday highlighting the Feb. 19 incident.
“That’s not an easy decision right there,” Chief Terry Rozema told Tucson News Now. “That’s a tough, tough, tough decision. But he made it.”
Rozema said the suspect, Mario Valencia, was headed toward locked-down businesses and deadly force may have been necessary to prevent a hostage crisis — or something far worse.
Putting the rifle to his own head:
Officer Rapiejko and Mario Valencia:
