Fort Worth officer hit by SUV stable after surgeries, faces long road, authorities say
A Fort Worth officer who was struck Saturday by a sport utility vehicle during a pursuit was caught under it and dragged for a time, police said.
Officer Matthew Brazeal, 34, was stable after surgeries at John Peter Smith Hospital and faces a long recovery, the police department said Thursday.
Brazeal was struck on a shoulder in the 3000 block of West Loop 820 as he prepared to set down stop sticks. Other officers had tried to stop the Dodge Journey’s driver because of a traffic violation about 11:30 a.m. in the 4200 block of northbound North Freeway, police said.
During the pursuit, they learned the SUV had been reported stolen. Ronnie Jackson Jr., 38, was its driver, police said.
Jackson swerved from the road toward Brazeal and intended to hit him with the vehicle, police alleged. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted capital murder, evading arrest with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and auto theft.
The officer tried to jump out of the way but could not. Brazeal was struck with such force that the equipment from his gun belt was ripped from his body and scattered in a ditch, police said.
Brazeal was dislodged as Jackson drove on a service road, police said.
Brazeal has been a Fort Worth police officer for three years. He was previously a law enforcement officer in Parker County and is a U.S. Army veteran.
“We ask that you please keep Officer Brazeal, his family, and all of his teammates in your thoughts and prayers,” the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, a union, tweeted on Tuesday. “We also ask that you continue to pray for our city, our state, and our nation.”
Donations to assist Brazeal can be made in his name at atofortworth.org/make-a-donation, the union said.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 8:14 PM.
