A Virginia State Police trooper and a police K-9 dog suffered minor injuries during a pursuit overnight on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County.
At 3:38 a.m., a State Police trooper observed a vehicle on I-95 northbound near Route 286 travelling 90 miles per hour. The trooper caught up to the vehicle, and the tags reportedly came back as stolen.
The suspect vehicle then increased speed and a pursuit was initiated, according to police. The pursuit continued on Interstate 495 northbound.
Additional troopers also joined the pursuit on I-495.
As the pursuit reached the American Legion bridge, the suspect vehicle intentionally rammed one of the police vehicles, forcing it into the jersey wall, according to a VSP report.
The injured trooper, who was not the initial pursuing officer, was taken to an area hospital. The K9 received minor cuts in the incident.
The driver of the vehicle, Jared D. Rodriguez, 20, of Silver Spring, Md., has been charged with reckless driving, felony eluding, grand larceny, assault on a law enforcement officer, injury to a police animal, destruction of property and possession of burglary tools.
There were three passengers in the vehicle who were initially taken into custody; they were later released.
The incident remains under investigation.
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Crystal Graham
