6/29/21 Scottsdale, AZ – Man And Woman – Traffic Stop – Deliberately Backed Over Motorcycle Officer – Crashes – Steals Ambulance – Abandoned – Escaped

June 29, 2021

www.azfamily.com

Scottsdale police say they are searching for a man accused of intentionally hitting an officer’s motorcycle with his car and stealing an ambulance on Monday. The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Matthew Thomas Crook.

Sgt. Kevin Quon says a Scottsdale police officer was hit near Indian School and Scottsdale roads while he was conducting a stop. The car that was stopped had a man, believed to be Crook, driving, and a woman passenger. During the traffic stop the man, “intentionally reversed into the officer’s motorcycle,” then drove away, authorities said.

“They just tried to run me over,” you can hear the officer saying on his body cam video as he called for help. “They’re headed north on Scottsdale Road.”

The officer suffered minor injuries. Officers say Crook allegedly hit another car near 75th Street and Indian School Road and left the scene. No one was hurt in that crash. Crook’s car was later found abandoned at an apartment complex near 78th Street and Camelback Road.

Minutes later, Scottsdale police learned the Crook and the passenger in the car had allegedly stolen a nearby ambulance that was on an unrelated call. Police found it abandoned a few blocks away in the area of 79th Street and Heatherbrae Drive. Both suspects were seen running into the neighborhood where the female passenger was found and arrested. 

Scottsdale police said they are still looking for Crook.  He is white, with a heavy build and tattoos. Police say he is 06’06” tall, weighs 330 lbs., and has brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored shirt with a horizontal stripe and tan pants. 

Anyone with information was asked to call the Scottsdale Police Department at 480-312-5000.