Woman arrested in hit-run that left officer hospitalized

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia woman has been charged with attempted murder after police say she ran over a bicycle officer during the burglaries and vandalism that happened after the first night of protests over the death of George Floyd.

Court documents indicate that 41-year-old Angela Hall faces charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, reckless endangering, evidence-tampering, fleeing an officer and other counts.

Officer Antonio Nieves was on his bicycle helping patrol near Center City late on May 30 when several stores were broken into, fires were started and people began taking merchandise. Police have said Nieves chased a car after he saw someone taking items from a store and attempted to stop the vehicle leaving the scene.

Police say the driver of the car ran over Nieves to get away. The officer suffered major injuries including broken ribs, cracked vertebrae and shoulder, neck and arm damage, police union officials have said. He remained in the hospital Tuesday, more than a week after the incident.

Police announced late Monday that Hall had been arrested. A message seeking comment was left with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, listed in court records as representing her.

Protests and incidents of vandalism, arson and theft continued through last week. City and police officials have said the incidents of burglary and vandalism had decreased significantly by the end of last week.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said as of this weekend, when protests were largely peaceful, 27 officers had been injured.

Fourteen of the city’s 17 council members signed a letter to the mayor Monday objecting to a proposed $14 million increase to the police department and calling for the city to “recalibrate” budget priorities.

Police locally and nationally face “a crisis of legitimacy” in part because they are asked “to solve problems better addressed by social workers, healthcare providers, educators, housing counselors, and others,” the letter said.

“Rebalancing our budget priorities is a first step in resolving this problem,” it said. “It is counterproductive to increase spending on the police department while cutting spending on public health, housing, social services, violence prevention, youth programs, libraries, parks, recreation centers, and the arts.”

Police officials will appear before the council Wednesday as it holds hearings on a city budget that must be approved by the end of the month.