Woman arrested after striking Cedar Park officer, K-9 with vehicle
CEDAR PARK, Texas - A Cedar Park police K-9 officer and his partner were injured after they were struck by a vehicle during a pursuit between Cedar Park and Leander.
CPPD says that they had been notified on Wednesday by another agency that a female driver had been acting suspiciously in an area where previous felonies had recently happened. Because of this, an officer attempted to pull the driver over just after 1 p.m.
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The driver then drove off and evaded officers through parts of Cedar Park, Leander, and very briefly in parts of Travis and Williamson counties. CPPD says the driver struck two vehicles and a marked patrol unit.
CPPD says that as the driver approached the area of 100 W. Whitestone, the K-9 officer, identified as Justin Gower, and his K-9 partner Rogue, got out of the vehicle to try and apprehend her. Both were struck by her vehicle and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Gower was treated at a local hospital and released and Rogue was treated at a local vet clinic and released as well.
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CPPD also confirmed it was not involved in a shooting during this event, but that a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper had fired at the suspect vehicle. No injuries were reported.
The driver, later identified as 32-year-old Joanna Elise Santos, was apprehended and taken into custody after her vehicle wrecked in the 2200 block of North Bell Boulevard. She has been charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer and second-degree felony interference with a police service animal with the intent to injure or kill.
CPPD says further charges may be pending. CPPD is working on this investigation in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety.