Woman who allegedly fled after hitting cop with car arrested in L.A.

Monday, Dec. 20, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

Los Angeles police Saturday arrested a woman wanted for attempted murder after allegedly hitting in her car a Metro Police detective and fleeing the scene at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets on Dec. 7. The detective was trying to arrest her on suspicion of shoplifting.

Natashia Jackson was arrested in Hawthorne, Calif., and booked on a warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Metro Lt. Ted Snodgrass said.

Officer Richard Hill was taken to the hospital and was treated for a broken ankle after the hit and run. The detective was investigating a shoplifting at the shopping mall.

The detective and another police officer were in uniform patrolling the mall as part of the department's holiday initiative to prevent crimes against retailers and shoppers when they noticed a suspicious Plymouth Breeze sedan parked near the front of the outlet mall in a no-parking zone.

As officers spoke to the occupants, Jackson walked up to the car with shopping bags, police said.

A store manager followed the woman and told the officers that the suspect had stolen clothes with an estimated value of $500, police said.

Officers handcuffed Jackson, but police said she slipped out of the cuffs, struggled with officers and managed to break away. She jumped into the car, put it in reverse and when an officer tried to stop her, he was knocked down.

Then Jackson allegedly ran over the policeman's leg.

Jackson has been convicted of burglary before, according to police records.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Jackson is expected to be charged with escape and grand larceny.