Man Arrested for Allegedly Hitting a Pedestrian in a Parking Lot Sunday Afternoon

(KNSI) — An 18-year-old man is jailed after he allegedly swerved toward a pedestrian in the Target parking lot and purposely ran them down.

According to a press release from the St. Cloud Police Department, they were called about 4:30 Sunday afternoon to the lot at the eastside Target location for a hit and run. The caller said the driver of a dark-colored Volkswagen Passat had hit at least one vehicle and was still in the lot. Other callers said that a pedestrian had also been hit.

A nearby officer arrived on scene and found the driver allegedly speeding through the parking lot. They tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver took off and headed south on Lincoln Avenue Southeast. They stopped a short time later, and the driver was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers still at the first scene found the 29-year-old victim lying on the pavement. First responders treated the man, and he was taken by ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital for serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Witnesses say the driver hit two other vehicles before he appeared to swerve toward and intentionally hit the victim, who was walking through the parking lot. The people in the other cars were not hurt.

The suspect was taken to the Benton County Jail, awaiting formal charges, including hit and run, driving while impaired, fleeing, and second-degree assault.

KNSI News does not typically name suspects until they have been formally charged.

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