Indiana: Off-duty New Albany police officer struck by fleeing car

What began as a shoplifting call ended with a police pursuit and an off-duty officer being struck by the fleeing car Tuesday afternoon. James Slaughter, 26, Louisville, allegedly stole multiple bottles of perfume from Victoria's Secret in the Green Tree Mall around 4:45 p.m., according to the police report. When two store employees yelled at Slaughter to return to the merchandise, Slaughter reportedly walked out of the store and passed an off-duty New Albany police officer.

That officer said he let Slaughter know he was an off-duty officer and ordered him to stop walking. When Slaughter didn't stop, the officer followed Slaughter to his car in hopes of getting a license plate number relay to responding police officers. As Slaughter got into the driver seat of his car, the off-duty officer told Slaughter to stop one last time.

" ... That is when Mr. Slaughter placed his vehicle in reverse and backed up striking [the officer] in his left elbow causing pain and discomfort," the report reads.

The off-duty officer told Clarksville police that if he hadn't rolled out of the way, "he could've been pinned between the parked car and Mr. Slaughter's vehicle." The officer did not need medical attention, according to the report.

Slaughter fled the area in his car. Then around Interstate 65 and Stansifer Avenue, an officer parked in his patrol car saw Slaughter's car as described by dispatch. When the officer tried to make a traffic stop, Slaughter allegedly failed to stop and started to weave around other cars going southbound on U.S. 31.

Traffic came to a stop near the 10th Street ramp onto U.S. 31, but Slaughter refused to pull over and turn off his ignition. As the officer exited his patrol car, Slaughter again tried to weave around cars and flee. The officer ran up to Slaughter's car and opened the driver-side door. An Indiana State Police trooper arrived to assist and Slaughter was arrested. A woman and a 3-year-old boy were also in the car.

Slaughter initially denied stealing perfume bottles from Victoria's Secret, but later said he had attempted to steal the merchandise "because he did not have any money." Slaughter claimed he gave the stolen merchandise back to an employee before leaving the store, and that's why he didn't stop when commanded by the off-duty officer.

Slaughter is preliminarily charged with theft, resisting law enforcement using a car, criminal recklessness with a car and battery to an officer. He is being held in the Clark County jail on a $10,000 cash-surety bond. The stolen merchandise, valued at more than $270, was not recovered.