BETHESDA, Md. (WUSA9) -- A Montgomery County police was grazed while directing traffic after a crash on the outer loop of the Beltway Tuesday afternoon.
The officer has been identified as 20-year veteran Francis McDonough of the Montgomery County Police Department.
Maryland State Police and Montgomery County police were on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash, which happened between Conn. Avenue and Georgia Avenue around 3:30.
Montgomery County Fire and EMS says they were evaluating several injuries although none appeared serious.
While directing traffic at the scene, officer McDonough was brushed by a car and nearly hit head-on.
Obviously stunned and noticeably upset, McDonough demanded the driver get out of the car once it stopped. Police say "there was a confrontation between the officer and the driver."
McDonough banged on the window and roof and pulled the door handle but the man remained in the car for nearly a minute before finally exiting.
After getting out of the car, the man began to walk to the rear of the vehicle when the officer, right next to him, appears to put his hands on the man.
That's when the man fell to the ground. It's not entirely clear whether he gets shoved, his feet get tangled up, a combination of the two or something else.
Officer McDonough was taken to Suburban hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
The driver, who has been identified as Reginald Eugene Taylor, age 58, of Baltimore, was arrested and charged with DUI and a traffic citation for failure to control speed to avoid a collision.
Police say his blood alcohol content was registered at 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Taylor was released after processing at a district station.
He was also charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.
Any allegations of misconduct after the officer was grazed will be investigated as part of the internal affairs process.
Ramon Korionoff of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office said his office will review the police department's assessment to determine if the officer's actions are administratively punishable or criminally punishable.
Republished with permission of WUSA9
