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Driver ignores commands, strikes CMPD officer with car

By Stephanie Tinoco
By Stephanie Tinoco

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer was intentionally struck by a vehicle while directing traffic Thursday, officials said.

[Police officer hit, killed by car while investigating crash]

Police said 55-year-old Randolph Moorehead ignored the officer's commands and struck 49-year-old Officer Michael Retort with his Mercedes in the 10000 block of Mallard Creek Road.

“The suspect in this case did not want to heed the advice of that officer, the officer asking him to divert to that side,” CMPD spokesman Rob Tufano said. “(The) guy starts cursing at the officer, intentionally pointed his vehicle in the direction of the officer and drove at the officer and hit the officer.”

Moorehead was taken into custody without incident and was released.

He is facing charges of assaulting a government official.

Retort suffered minor injuries.

“He could have killed this guy. He could have killed this officer,” Tufano said.

Police said in that busy part of north Charlotte, it’s not unusual for an officer to direct traffic throughout the week.

Moorehead’s motive is not known.

“[This] job is dangerous enough with the work police officers do, and for somebody to pull a stunt like this, (it) makes no sense at all,” Tufano said.

Reporter Stephanie Tinoco went to Moorehead’s home to find out.

“I just wanted to talk to you about the incident where you hurt an officer?” Tinoco asked. “The incident where you struck an officer?”

“I didn’t strike no officer,” Moorehead said.

Moorehead denies the allegations that he struck an officer with his car.

“You talk about the inherent danger associated with the profession, more than 170 cops killed just this year alone, or last year, in 2018,” Tufano said.

Police did not tell Channel 9 how fast Moorehead was going during the incident, but did say he was not under the influence.

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