AUBURN, Wash. — Police in Auburn arrested a man over the weekend who allegedly was driving through a park and struck a woman with his vehicle.
The Auburn Police Department (APD) said in a release Monday that officers were called to Lea Hill Park on Saturday. Multiple 911 callers reported that a black Honda vehicle was driving through the park "trying to intentionally hit people," the release said.
“Everybody was running for their lives; that's what we were doing, too. My mother-in-law started to shake, she was driving and didn’t know what to do,” said Tony Rosales.
Tony was in the car with his mother-in-law when the incident happened.
“There were kids, dogs, families. It was dangerous for everybody,” Rosales said.
One of the responding officers located the black Honda fleeing from the park just as they arrived and initiated a short pursuit. APD said the vehicle was eventually stopped and an 18-year-old man was arrested.
“It seemed like he had anger towards the world because he was hitting things and didn't care if there were people in the way. When he hit the soccer field a person barely got away from him, barely,” Rosales said.
Police said a 20-year-old woman was hit by the vehicle in the park and "is believed to have been known by the driver." The woman was transported to a local hospital, but no additional information on her condition was made available by police.
APD believes the incident was domestic violence and that the suspect was targeting a significant other, per its release. The suspect was booked on suspicion of multiple felonies, including domestic violence assault, police said.
Rosales went to a nearby store, where he witnessed the end of the police chase and was thankful for the officers and praised them for their bravery.
“Auburn is not this; this is one thing that happened with someone that needs help, and hopefully, he gets the help he needs, and she does too,” said Rosales.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788 or visit thehotline.org for additional guidance and resources.
Visit the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence website for additional local resources.