By Jeff Reinitz
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
WATERLOO, Iowa — A Waterloo man rammed his SUV into a police car, injuring two officers during a disturbance investigation Tuesday.
The driver, Kelvin Plain Jr., originally left the scene at police request, threatening officers as he pulled away, police said. Plain drove down Niles Street, but returned a few minutes later, hitting his Saturn sport utility vehicle’s accelerator and ramming one squad car into another and hitting a neighbor’s passenger car at a high speed, said Daniel Trelka, Waterloo director of safety services.
The impact forced one of the police cruisers into a tree on a nearby lawn. The officer inside, Randall Hammitt, 52, was taken to Allen Hospital for his injuries. A neighbor said Hammitt was covered in blood but was conscious and able to walk.
The other squad car was occupied by Sgt. Brooke Carter. She was also taken to Allen. Both officers later returned to limited duty, Trelka said.
Plain, 25, also was injured. He was taken to Allen Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. He was arrested for assault on a peace officer using a dangerous weapon, assault on a peace officer with intent to injure and first-degree criminal mischief. He is being held without bond on the assault charges.
Police were called to 4045 Niles St. at around 11 a.m. Trelka said the nature of the original disturbance wasn’t immediately known, but a neighbor said it appeared to be a domestic dispute.
Trelka said Plain was outside when officers arrived, and they asked him to leave. He made a verbal threat to the officers as he left, police said.
Plain was free on bond awaiting trial in connection with an October 2014 drug search and an April 2012 shooting in which a van was hit by gunfire.
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