A driver operating a salt truck late Thursday night drove at two Reading police officers while they were executing a traffic stop before leading officers from multiple agencies on a chase, the Reading Police Department said Friday.
According to a news release, two officers were in the process of taking a suspect into custody after a traffic stop near the intersection of Reading Road and Sunnybrook Drive when they observed 36-year-old Omar Armstrong accelerating a city of Cincinnati salt truck in their direction.
Terry Helmer (WCPO)
"The officers had to jump back to avoid being struck by the truck," the release indicates, adding that the officers estimated the vehicle was traveling in excess of 60 miles per hour as it passed.
As one of the Reading officers completed the initial traffic stop, the other pursued the salt truck. Armstrong refused to stop, officers said, leading them on a chase up Interstate 75 on to Ronald Reagan Highway.
Springfield Township police eventually joined the pursuit, as well, as Armstrong returned to the site of the original traffic stop, spraying salt on the officer again, the release stated.
Springfield Township officers finally succeeded in stopping Armstrong, where he was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted vehicular assault, failure to comply, and reckless operation, among other charges.
Armstrong's attorney said Friday in court that he did not see the police vehicle's flashing lights behind him as officers were pursuing him. She also said he has worked at the city of Cincinnati for five years.
A judge held Armstrong on a $9,000 bond and set a grand jury date for Feb. 8.
