WINSTON-SALEM--The Winston-Salem Police Department reveals new details about the officer who stopped a man driving the wrong way on U.S. 52 early Sunday morning.
The department identified Officer Michael Moore as the person who rammed his cruiser into Rafael Sandoval-Perez’s 1998 Chevrolet Blazer on the highway at Akron Drive. Police say Sandoval-Perez was driving North in the southbound lanes around 12:39 a.m.
“We have suspicion alcohol is involved,” Capt. Christopher Lowder said.
Lowder said officers first tried to pull Sandoval-Perez over from the northbound side of the highway. When emergency tactics didn’t work, Officer Moore took drastic measures after Sandoval-Perez hit another car on the highway between 28th Street and Akron Drive.
"Officer Moore was able to evaluate the situation, he was able to listen to the radio traffic,” Lowder said.
Moore made a critical decision to enter the highway using the southbound lane on Akron Drive, make a u-turn and when Sandoval-Perez didn’t pull over, he hit the SUV and it rolled.
"It is a situation where he used deadly force and at this point the deadly force being his vehicle."
Officer J. G. Wells was in the car with Moore at the time. Moore has been on the force for eight years. Despite his action to stop Sandoval-Perez, Moore’s decision is being looked at.
“At this point with the level of force that he used, it is standard practice that this is a personnel matter in an administrative investigation that be reviewed by his chain of command and by professional standards,” Lowder said.
Sandoval-Perez was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. No one else was hurt.
Sandoval-Perez faces a number of charges, including driving while impaired and hit and run. He's in the Forsyth County Detention Center under a $15,000 bond. His court date is set for August 13.