Man in custody after allegedly running over CHP officer on purpose

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California Highway Patrol on Friday said a suspect deliberately tried to murder a police officer by running him over with a pickup truck.

Officers arrested 28-year-old Austin Scott on Thursday. The highway patrol said the Reno man pulled over in a median on westbound I-80 near Sacramento.

Officer Michael Ericson pulled up behind the suspect on his motorcycle to see if something was wrong. CHP says the suspect backed over the officer intentionally and took off.

He was arrested after about a 20 minute chase.

Scott was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Thursday night on attempted murder charges, assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence of drugs.

The commander of the North Sacramento CHP says the entire community pitched in to help the downed officer.

“I firsthand witnessed some phenomenal acts of heroism by citizens, off-duty fire fighters, and two off-duty police officers," said North Sacramento CHP Officer Andy Williams.

Ericson is a 17-year veteran of the highway patrol. He remains in critical, but stable condition at UC Davis Medical Center.