A driver accused of hitting a Gwinnett County police officer and an investigator from the district attorney’s office with a van is behind bars, officials said.
Ivan Montalvo, 26, of Lawrenceville, is facing nine charges, including two counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, Gwinnett police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said.
His charges stem from an incident that occurred outside the Chiquitas Lounge on Jimmy Carter Boulevard about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, she said.
Gwinnett police officer Lt. Edward Restrepo and the district attorney’s investigator tried to stop a man they believed was intoxicated from driving away, according to an incident report.
RELATED: Gwinnett officer, investigator struck by van outside Norcross bar
Investigators said the man backed up his van, knocking Restrepo to the ground with his driver’s door, AJC.com previously reported. He then pulled forward to leave, running over the officer, authorities said.
Officers discovered the abandoned van in a nearby residential area and Montalvo was located after police dogs were brought in to track him, authorities said.
Both Restrepo and the investigator were taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, authorities said. Restrepo has since been released and is at home “resting and recovering from his injuries,” Pihera said.
“He appreciates all the well-wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery,” she said.
In addition to aggravated assault, Montalvo faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated battery, hit-and-run, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, fleeing and driving without a valid license. He was booked into the Gwinnett jail, where he remains.
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