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Man held after hitting cop car
He is believed to be illegal immigrant
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
St. Tammany bureau

A man believed to be an illegal immigrant was arrested after plowing a pickup truck into the back of a Covington police car Saturday night while the officer was out of his car during a traffic stop, authorities said.

The unidentified man, who continued driving after the accident, was arrested about three blocks away, police said.

The man, booked as "John Doe," faces charges of hit-and-run, driving without a driver's license and driving in the United States without a lawful presence.

Sgt. Robert Blount pulled a vehicle over for a traffic offense on 21st Avenue near Tyler Street about 10 p.m. and had stepped out of his car when the pickup hit the rear of the police car and kept going, Lt. Jack West said.

Blount's vehicle was rendered inoperable, but he called on the radio for assistance and the suspect was stopped in the 1200 block of 24th Avenue.

The driver, who spoke no English, was carrying fake North Carolina identification, West said.

A half-empty bottle of whiskey was found in the Ford Ranger truck.