A teenage boy is facing assault charges following an incident in Des Moines that involved an officer firing his gun at a vehicle. Des Moines Police says two officers tried to pull over an SUV Saturday night on the city’s south side after learning the vehicle was being driven without the owner’s consent.
A short chase ensued before the driver of the SUV lost control and the SUV ended up facing the police vehicle. A press release indicates the officers exited their vehicle and began giving commands of the three occupants of the SUV, but the driver accelerated toward and collided with the police cruiser.
That’s when Officer Bryan O’Donnell fired at the SUV as the vehicle nearly struck the other officer, Zack McCarthy. No one was injured and the occupants of the SUV were taken into custody. The driver, 16-year-old Jesse Graham, is facing several assault charges and possession of marijuana.
The other two occupants were released.