Man Arrested After Striking AC Police Vehicle

The Atlantic City Police Department arrested a man after he fired a gunshot and intentionally drove a vehicle into an occupied police car injuring two officers. Early Sunday morning, officers heard a gunshot come from the area of the 200 block of Turnpike Road. The officers immediately headed towards the direction of the gunshot. As the officers began to investigate, a concerned citizen told them that there was a man with a gun getting into a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, and lone occupant, John Melendez of Millville, conducted a U-turn in the street and drove towards the officers. The officers shouted orders for Melendez to stop the vehicle, but he continued in their direction at a high rate of speed passing them. As Melendez turned onto Florida Avenue, Officers Bayron Zelaya-Chavez and Ivaylo Penchev arrived in their marked patrol car. Melendez sped towards the officer’s vehicle and crashed into the patrol car injuring both officers. Melendez was taken into custody and a loaded handgun was recovered on the floor board.