Man arrested after 2 officers hit by car in parking lot in Peoria

A man was arrested on Saturday evening after he hit two Peoria officers with his car while they tried to arrest him on suspicion of shoplifting from a store near Lake Pleasant Parkway and Deer Valley Road, according to officials. 

Peoria police responded to a shoplifting call at around 7 p.m. at Walmart and tried to arrest Gabriel Brandin, 40, in the store parking lot, but Brandin was able to get into his car and backed into two officers while fleeing with the car doors open, according to officials. 

The front passenger door that hit one officer could no longer close after the incident, according to Sgt. Amanda Gaines, spokesperson for Peoria police. The two officers had minor injuries and were evaluated by Peoria Fire-Medical Department at the scene, according to Gaines. 

Brandin fled the area and was found by another officer near Beardsley and Lake Pleasant roads, said Gaines. Police in the area tried to pull Brandin over, but he fled the area and was speeding so police did not pursue him, according to Gaines.

An air unit found Brandin's vehicle near Glendale and 99th avenues and police in the area arrested Brandin as he exited his vehicle, said Gaines.

Brandin was later booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault on an officer, unlawful flight, endangerment, shoplifting, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence, according to Gaines.

The investigation was ongoing. 

Reach the reporter at Audrey.Jensen@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter at @Audreyj101.