Driver accused of attempting to mow down cop during street takeover strolls free hours later on $3K bond

A North Carolina pistillate accused of striking a constabulary serviceman with her car during a thoroughfare takeover was released connected a $3,000 enslaved conscionable hours aft her apprehension — a determination instrumentality enforcement leaders accidental sends a troubling message.

Tanaezah Michelle Austin, 25, faces a felony complaint of battle with a deadly limb connected a authorities authoritative successful transportation with the aboriginal Sunday greeting incidental successful northwest Charlotte.

According to an apprehension affidavit, officers responded astir 3:25 a.m. to reports of vehicles doing donuts successful a commercialized parking lot. When officers attempted to interruption up what constabulary described arsenic a thoroughfare takeover, 1 serviceman approached a achromatic Kia Optima that was attempting to leave.

The affidavit states the operator initially stopped arsenic the serviceman walked successful beforehand of the vehicle. But arsenic helium moved toward the driver’s side, the operator "began to accelerate rapidly" and struck him, causing him to rotation implicit the hood.

Tanaezah Michelle Austin was arrested successful transportation with a Charlotte thoroughfare takeover incidental successful which a constabulary serviceman was injured, according to apprehension records.  (Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office)

Police accidental the serviceman was successful afloat azygous and giving verbal commands to halt earlier helium was hit, and was lasting straight successful beforehand of the conveyance wherever helium "could beryllium intelligibly seen by the driver."

The serviceman was transported to a infirmary and treated for insignificant injuries.

Viral posts amusement the altercation, with immoderate asking, "What is happening successful Charlotte?"

Court records amusement Austin was arrested March 2 and released aboriginal that time aft posting a $3,000 secured bond. A probable origin proceeding is scheduled for March 24.

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The enslaved magnitude has sparked outrage among instrumentality enforcement leaders.

"These are among the worst of the worst incidents that we person to woody with successful Charlotte," said Dan Redford, president of the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police. "To spot a $3,000 enslaved for an offender, careless of whether she has a transgression past oregon not, erstwhile the intent to fly was intelligibly there, is pathetic."

Redford said the fishy fled the country and was aboriginal located by officers. He added that decisions similar this tin interaction serviceman morale.

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Mugshot of Tanaezah Michelle Austin pursuing her apprehension related to a Charlotte thoroughfare takeover lawsuit involving an injured constabulary officer. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office)

"It’s precise frustrating," Redford said. "There are laws connected the books that are expected to support instrumentality enforcement officers from these heinous attacks. When officers spot this treated similar conscionable different incident, it makes them question whether they’re genuinely supported — particularly by members of the transgression justness system."

Randy Sutton, a retired constabulary lieutenant and laminitis of The Wounded Blue, an enactment that advocates for injured instrumentality enforcement officers, said the enslaved determination reflects broader systemic concerns.

"When I perceive astir idiosyncratic being released connected a $3,000 enslaved for moving implicit a constabulary serviceman connected video, it boggles my mind," Sutton said. "In reality, that means she whitethorn person lone had to enactment up astir $300. She ran implicit a cop, and she walked out."

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Sutton described thoroughfare takeovers arsenic "mob situations" that tin rapidly crook deadly.

"This wasn’t an accident," helium said. "She saw him, helium was communicating with her, and past she conscionable gunned the car toward him. This could person been a fatal encounter."

He added that utilizing a conveyance to onslaught an serviceman constitutes deadly force.

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Two Montgomery County Police Department cruisers were damaged during a thoroughfare takeover successful Maryland connected Feb. 22, 2026. (Montgomery County Police)

"If you effort to tally implicit a constabulary officer, they person each justification to usage deadly unit to support themselves," Sutton said.

U.S. Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., besides criticized the enslaved decision.

"Running implicit a constabulary serviceman is of the highest level of evil," Harris said successful a statement. "It’s besides a implicit slap successful the look for our brave instrumentality enforcement to spot these kinds of criminals allowed close backmost connected the streets. When is Charlotte going to extremity the transgression cycle? When are magistrates going to support atrocious guys down bars? Enough is enough!"

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Republican U.S. Senate campaigner Michael Whatley besides weighed in, blaming what helium described arsenic soft-on-crime policies successful Charlotte and crossed the state.

Whatley said those policies endanger instrumentality enforcement officers and nationalist safety, arguing that criminals beryllium down bars and pledging to proceed backing instrumentality enforcement.

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The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office declined to remark connected the case, citing North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct that prohibit prosecutors from making out-of-court statements connected pending cases.

Court records amusement Austin antecedently faced misdemeanor marijuana and paraphernalia charges successful 2025. Those charges were aboriginal dismissed.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].

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