A driver faces several charges after being accused of nearly hitting an El Paso police bicycle officer with a vehicle in Downtown’s Union Plaza and then driving onto a sidewalk to escape, police said.
Jacob Wayne Williams, 31, of El Paso, was arrested by the U.S. Marshal’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force on Thursday, April 23, in connection with an alleged vehicular assault that occurred a week earlier, stated an El Paso police news release issued Monday, April 27, by police spokeswoman Detective Judy Oviedo.
Williams was arrested on felony charges of aggravated assault against a public servant and evading arrest with a vehicle.
El Paso County jail records show that Williams was released from jail on Friday after posting a total surety bond of $65,000. No attorney is listed for him on court records.
The incident occurred at 8:30 p.m. on April 17 when officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle allegedly driven by Williams in the 300 block of West San Antonio Avenue along the south edge of the El Paso convention center, police said.
When a bicycle officer made contact with the driver, Williams allegedly turned the vehicle toward the officer and “accelerated nearly striking the officer,” police stated.
Williams then allegedly fled, driving onto a sidewalk, headed north on Durango Street, ran a stop sign by Southwest University Park and then fled west on Franklin Avenue into the Sunset Heights neighborhood, where the vehicle was later found unoccupied, police said.
El Paso police obtained warrants for Williams in connection with the alleged assault and he was then taken into custody by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso driver accused of nearly hitting police officer on bicycle
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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