Officer struck by vehicle on West Side, 3 men charged

Three men have been charged after a police officer was hit by a vehicle Saturday evening in Lawndale on the West Side.

According to Chicago police, 25-year-old Dale Sneed, the driver of the vehicle, has been charged with:

• felony aggravated fleeing a peace officer;
• felony aggravated battery to a peace officer;
• felony unlawful use of a loaded weapon;
• driving without a seatbelt; and
• leaving the scene of an accident

Marcus Melton, 25, and Imari Paxton, 21, were passengers in the vehicle and both charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor resisting arrest, police said. Paxton was also charged with a felony count of armed violence with a category II weapon.

The officer was struck by Sneed’s vehicle as he stood outside his own vehicle about 5:20 p.m. in the 3800 block of West Lexington Avenue, police said. Officers pursued Sneed’s vehicle until it crashed in the 700 block of South Independence Boulevard, at which point the men inside were arrested.

No injuries were reported, police said.