Jersey City police officer accused of running suspect over twice

A Jersey City police officer was arrested Friday after he allegedly chased a suspect and ran him over twice in August, authorities said.

Sgt. John Ransom was charged with assault by auto causing serious bodily injury, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

The arrest follows an Aug. 6 incident in which Ransom and other officers were investigating a suspect on a possible drug offense, authorities said. When officers attempted to stop the suspect who was later identified as Shiron Cooper, he fled the scene.

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Cooper fled into Audubon Park, where he was chased by Ransom in his patrol car, authorities said. Ransom then struck Cooper twice with the car, according to authorities.

The incident was caught on surveillance cameras, authorities said.

Cooper survived the incident and suffered a fracture to his face along with cuts to his body and head, authorities said. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was sentenced to two years of probation in September.

“Officers who abuse their power and break the law will be held accountable for their actions,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez in the statement. “The Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor will continue to vigorously investigate and root out police misconduct and wrongdoing.”

The arrest of Ransom comes after four other Jersey City police officers were charged in a June car chase which ended with the officers kicking a bystander.