Authorities searching for suspect in Phoenix-area officer hit-and-run

PHOENIX — Police in Phoenix are searching for a man who allegedly hit an officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop before fleeing the scene Thursday night.

The Surprise officer, 44-year-old Eric Miner, on duty with the Valley’s DUI task force, was patrolling in the area of 40th Street and Osborn Road around 10 p.m. when the traffic stop occurred.

Phoenix police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said the driver, later identified as 34-year-old Jose Manuel Cardenas Jr., provided a false identity during the stop and the officer attempted to detain the suspect while the suspect was in the vehicle.

Cardenas broke free from the attempt and “accelerated at a high rate of speed,” striking Miner with the side of his vehicle.

Miner suffered a head injury and was transported to a local hospital. Sgt. Tim Klarkowski with the Surprise Police Department said the officer has been released from the hospital and was expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect was still outstanding as of Friday. He was described as a 6-foot-tall African-American male who is about 200 pounds and bald. He was driving a gray 2009 four-door Audi.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Silent Witness at (480) W-I-T-N-E-S-S.

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