Officer injured after vehicle hits K-9 patrol car in Palm Springs

A Palm Springs police officer is nursing mildinjuries he sustained when a vehicle crashed into his patrol car, a policesergeant said today.

The crash was reported about 10 p.m. Friday on Avenida Caballeros andTachevah Drive. The officer, who was in uniform and accompanied by a policedog, was going north on Avenida Caballeros when a southbound vehicle crossedinto the northbound lanes and struck the marked police car, said Palm Springspolice Sgt. Harvey Reed.

Both the officer — whose name was withheld — and the other driver, 31-year-old Palm Springs resident Brentin Michael Casey, were transported to alocal hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and released. Thedog wasn’t hurt, Reed said.

He said alcohol or drugs weren’t a factor in the crash, and thepreliminary investigation indicated that Casey made an “unsafe turningmovement,” violating traffic codes. Reed said he was told by the CathedralCity Police Department, which is investigating the crash, that Casey would becited.

The police vehicle had moderate damage to the front driver’s side, Reedsaid.