Man Mows Down Traffic Cop to Avoid Parking Ticket

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A man was so desperate to avoid a parking ticket that he ran over an NYPD traffic cop before she could write it, breaking her legs and causing a head injury.

The incident happened Friday afternoon on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx.

The 26-year-old agent was about to write a ticket for a double-parked car when the motorist ran to the vehicle, got in and tried to drive away, police said.

As he made his escape, the car knocked the agent to the ground and then drove over her, crushing her legs.

Police were trying to identify a suspect. They say the traffic agent is in guarded condition at St. Barnabas Hospital.

Surveillance video captures the suspect wearing a red shirt and dark pants running across the street to his 2002 black Ford Taurus. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man who is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 250 pounds.

Cops are asking for the public's help in capturing the suspect. Anyone with information is asking to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or to text tips to 274637. You can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC New York

[snarflx]

$50 parking ticket just turned into a felony hit-and-run, reckless driving, assault with a deadly weapon, etc. Don't know if NY has a 3 strikes law, but if this had happened in California, that's at least 3 strikes on 1 stupid move.

Parking ticket or life in prison. Tough choice.