Man Struck By Tacoma Officer's Vehicle Says It 'Could've Killed Me'

One of the people injured when a police officer in Tacoma, Washington drove into a crowd has said he could have been killed.

Tavon Williams was struck when the officer, who was responding to a report of a street race, plowed his vehicle through a crowd of pedestrians in downtown Tacoma on Saturday night.

The incident sparked protests with people calling for the officer's firing and police reform.

Williams, who is now recovering at home, told KING5 he didn't initially realize he had been struck by a car and is still struggling to come to terms with what happened.

"I didn't see a police car, I didn't hear a police car, I was filming," Williams told the station. "Two minutes later I'm on the ground and the gentleman beside me was under an SUV."

Williams added that he was shocked the officer, identified as 56-year-old Khanh Phan, didn't stop to see if he'd injured anyone.

Williams said the officer "got frustrated," adding that he wasn't behaving like an officer should. "That split second really could've killed me and the fellow man beside me," he said.

In a statement on Saturday night, Tacoma police spokeswoman Wendy Haddow said about 100 people and multiple cars had been blocking the intersection of South 9th Street and Pacific Avenue when police arrived.

People had gathered around the officer's vehicle and were pounding on the car's windows, she added.

"The officer, fearing for his safety, tried to back up, but was unable to do so because of the crowd," Haddow said.

"While trying to extricate himself from an unsafe position, the officer drove forward striking one individual and may have impacted others. The officer stopped at a point of safety and called for medical aid."

Phan, who has been with the Tacoma Police Department for almost 30 years, was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT) is conducting an independent investigation, the police department said.

But Williams' lawyer Joshua Brumley said Phan should not be paid while the investigation occurs, especially since his client is unable to work due to his injuries.

"In the circumstances that we're in with COVID, and people not able to work, and then an officer, who's a government employee, using his government vehicle to run down members of the public, is able to be paid while an investigation occurs. I don't think that's an appropriate use of our taxpayer money," Brumley said.

Brumley and Williams have been contacted for additional comment.