Police: Prospect Heights officer, second person struck by fleeing vehicle

A Prospect Heights police officer and second person were struck by a vehicle early Sunday as its driver fled the scene of a brawl outside a bar, authorities said.

A 22-year-old is in custody facing a driving under the influence charge stemming from the incident, and additional charges are pending, police said. Police would not release the identity of the suspect Sunday morning.

According to police, officers responded at about 4 a.m. to a fight involving multiple patrons of the bar in the 1200 block of Rand Road.

A bar employee and police officer were in the parking lot trying to break up the brawl when they were struck by a vehicle driven by the suspect, according to police.

Both were taken to a nearby hospital. The officer suffered bruising and was later released, while the bar employee remains hospitalized with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, police said.

About 10 minutes after the incident, the vehicle was stopped by Palatine police at Rand Road and Bayside Drive. Officers conducted field sobriety tests then took the driver into custody.

The driver later refused to a blood-alcohol level test, police said. Detectives will be seeking a search warrant for a blood draw from the driver, police said.