Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officials released bodycam video from an officer-involved shooting that occurred in October when a suspect fled with an officer in the back of his car (video below).
The incident occurred on Oct. 22 when officers responded to the Brightwood Park neighborhood of Northwest DC for a report of a man threatening another man with a gun, WTOP reported.
Police said officers arrived and found 35-year-old Natango Robinson, who matched the description of the suspect.
When officers searched Robinson, they found a gun in his waistband, WTOP reported.
Bodycam video showed an officer arrived on the scene as those officers were trying to detain Robinson.
The video showed that officer got into the back of the suspect’s vehicle and ordered the suspect to get out of the car, WTOP reported.
But Robinson ignored police commands and seconds later slammed the car into drive and took off with the officers still partially in his vehicle.
Two officers were thrown to the pavement – and one of them injured – when the suspect fled, WTOP reported.
Bodycam showed the third officer was caught in the backseat when Robinson hit the gas.
He repeatedly screamed at the driver “put it in park! put it park!” but the driver just kept going.
Bodycam video showed Robinson told the officer he couldn’t stop and he wasn’t going to go back to jail.
The officers pleaded with the driver in the video to stop the car and put it in park, but the driver just kept going.
The video showed Robinson asked the officer not to shoot him and briefly put one hand up in the air as he continued to flee.
The officer’s voice became more panicked-sounding as the video progressed.
Bodycam video showed that Robinson tried to reach for something above his passenger-side visor a split second before the officer fire his weapon at him.
Robinson was shot in the side, WTOP reported.
A second later, bodycam video showed the officer launched himself out of the back of the moving vehicle.
DC Police Chief Robert Contee said the officer sustained injuries when he jumped from the moving car, WTOP reported.
#BREAKING: Officer attempting a traffic stop in the 500 block of Kennedy St NW dragged by driver, suffering non-life threatening injuries. Officer fired their gun, suspected driver turns up at nearby hospital with gunshot wounds. @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/pyYpoBkhdP
— Tom Lynch (@TomLynch_) October 22, 2021
Robinson drove himself to the hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound he sustained during the incident.
MPD said Robinson was arrested at the hospital and charged with felony assault on a police officer while armed, kidnapping while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, fleeing a law enforcement officer, failure to obey, and reckless driving, WTOP reported.
The injured officer was placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated, as is protocol for all officer-involved shootings.
On Tuesday night, MPD identified the officer who shot Robinson as MPD Officer Christopher Boyle, The Washington Post reported.
Officials said that Officer Boyle is a four-year veteran of MPD who was assigned to the Fourth District.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below:
Holly Matkin
