The man police say is responsible for hitting and injuring a Boise police officer with his car has been arrested.
Oregon State Police arrested Kyler Olsen, 24, about 2 a.m. near a La Grande truck stop.
After responding to tips from the public and following up on leads, the U.S. Marshals Task Force -- made up of local law enforcement officers and federal officers -- located information that Olsen was possibly in the La Grande area, according to a Boise Police Department news release.
Police found Olsen parked at a truck stop in the vehicle he was originally said to be driving –- a red, two-door Honda Civic.
Shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday, a Boise Police officer initiated a traffic stop near Vista Avenue and Spaulding Streets.
“The traffic stop ended with the suspect’s vehicle and the patrol vehicle facing each other. When the officer was approaching the car, the driver intentionally drove his vehicle toward the officer, striking the officer and his patrol car. The driver then fled the scene,” a BPD release stated.
Paramedics and additional officers arrived on scene -- and the injured officer was rushed to a local hospital.
The officer has since been released and is expected to make a full recovery, the press release stated.
The patrol car ended up with front-end damage and damage to the driver’s side.
The suspect's vehicle reportedly used in the hit-and-run -- a Hyundai Sonata -- was found abandoned near Hillcrest Drive a short while later.
Officers conducted an area search -- which included a K-9 tracking team, but did not locate either the driver or the passenger, both of whom apparently fled on foot.
On Wednesday afternoon, Boise Police released store surveillance photos of a female they believe was in Olson’s vehicle at the time. Detectives have since spoken with her. They say she is a juvenile -- and that their report will be routed to the prosecutor for possible charges.
Police said late Wednesday that Olsen was believed driving a second car, a Honda Civic.
Olsen was arrested on warrants out of Idaho and will be extradited at a later date. He faces charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and failure to appear for sexual battery of a minor. Both are felonies.
