Portsmouth, Va. - An undercover officer was injured while trying to chase down a suspect in Portsmouth on Tuesday afternoon. Douglass Park Elementary School and Portsmouth Christian School were locked down while officers searched for the suspects.
Officers were doing surveillance when they spotted one of the suspects they were searching for in a silver 4-door Ford. They followed the vehicle and the car ran off Rodman Road and turned onto Portsmouth Boulevard. Police say 21-year-old Taquan D. Harper, was wanted for 15 outstanding warrants. Police say he was the one driving the vehicle.
Police say Harper turned onto Ivey and then stopped.
The officers then turned on their lights, Harper stepped on the gas and ran into the back of the unmarked police car that was turning onto Portsmouth Blvd. at the time.
The officer who was inside of the vehicle was injured.
Harper allegedly drove through the neighborhood, went through someone's yard and hit a gray Honda Accord. A woman and man were inside of the vehicle at the time. The car was hit on the passenger side.
Three men jumped out of the vehicle and ran away. Two were taken into custody and another one is still on the loose. One person was released because he was just a passenger.
The woman who was hit and the officer were taken to the hospital. The officer has been treated and released. The woman suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Harper has now been charged with assault of a law enforcement officer, felony eluding, felony hit and run and driving on a suspended license.
Police have not released a description of the person who is still at large.
If you know anything about this incident, please call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
