A Cobb County police officer was recovering Friday after being struck overnight by a suspected drunk driver.
The incident happened about 11:20 p.m. after Officer A.M. Singleton made a traffic stop on Cobb Parkway near Greers Chapel Road, Cobb police Sgt. Dana Pierce said.
"When the traffic violator pulled over for the officer, he stopped partially in the right northbound travel lane," Pierce said. "Because of the violator's actions, the officer had to position his patrol car to block a portion of that right lane, in an attempt to create a safety zone in which he could conduct his investigation."
Pierce said Singleton had completed the traffic stop and was getting back into his patrol car when the driver of a black 2001 BMW 740i "failed to move over, slow down or stop, and struck the officer and his patrol car."
The BMW driver failed to stop, and fled north on Cobb Parkway. The original traffic offender assisted the downed officer while other units responded to the scene, Pierce said.
"Approximately 20 minutes later, officers at the scene observed a black BMW with right front damage drive by while southbound on Cobb Parkway," Pierce said. Officers stopped the BMW and detained the driver for further questioning.
Pierce said that driver, Irving Alicea, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to move over for an emergency vehicle and felony hit-and-run.
Alicea, 40, was not injured, and was booked into the Cobb County jail with bond set at $30,000. He was in the process of bonding out late Friday morning, Pierce said.
The injured officer sustained multiple broken bones andwas taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for treatment of injuries to his right hand, knee and ankle.
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