California: Dramatic video: San Diego police officer hit by his own cruiser

An officer who was run down by his own cruiser in a terrifying scene caught on video said he believed the man on trial for hitting him was going to kill him. Surveillance footage of the officer being struck was shown in court Friday at a preliminary hearing for the man accused of being behind the wheel. The traumatic video shows William Bogard allegedly deliberately running down Officer Jeff Swett in January.

“I figured at that point in time he was going to kill me,” Swett said on the stand Friday. According to ABC affiliate KGTV-TV, Swett also testified that Bogard was smiling behind the wheel. Swett described the “immediate pain” he felt as the car hit him. He said he was then propelled backward and “very forcefully hit the ground.” He suffered two broken arms, a broken leg and severe head and neck trauma, according to KGTV.

The incident began when police responded to a call that someone had broken into a home and was threatening the people inside. When officers arrived to the home, Bogard allegedly stole Swett’s running patrol car. Another officer shot at the car, KGTV reported, striking Bogard in the leg. He testified Friday that he did so because he “was in fear for Jeff’s life and my own.”

Bogard was charged with two counts of attempted murder on a peace officer, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, vehicle theft, burglary and criminal threatening, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.