A Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputy was injured when a suspected car thief intentionally rammed the door of her patrol car as she was getting out, pinning her leg, authorities said Wednesday.

The deputy’s injuries are not considered life-threatening, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Edward Ramirez.

The incident began at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday when West Hollywood sheriff’s deputies tried to pull over a stolen vehicle near the intersection of Clinton Street and Mansfield Avenue, Ramirez said. The suspect behind the wheel — later identified as Melvin Williams, 24 — pulled over initially, but about 30- 40 seconds later, he began driving westbound on Clinton Street, then south on Orange Avenue, Ramirez said.

A deputy on a separate call was getting out of her vehicle when Williams, looking in her direction, drove directly into the driver’s side door of her car, at which point her leg was pinned, Ramirez said.

Other deputies tended to their injured colleague, calling off the pursuit, until Williams again was seen in the 100 block of North Sycamore Avenue, Ramirez said. At that point, deputies formed a containment in the area, and a K-9 unit was summoned to the scene, helping lead authorities to Williams, who was hiding near a residence on the street, according to the sheriff’s department.

Williams suffered minor injuries in the incident and was treated at a nearby hospital before he was booked into the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, grand theft auto and felony evading, Ramirez said.

He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and due to make his initial court appearance Thursday at the airport courthouse on La Cienega Boulevard, according to jail records.

Anyone with information on the incident was urged to contact the sheriff’s department at (310) 855-8850 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

—City News Service

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