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Police: Passenger in stolen truck hit officer, patrol car while driver was being arrested

ORLANDO, Fla. — A passenger who hit an Orlando police officer with a stolen pickup truck is on the run, authorities said. But the driver of the truck, 48-year-old Kenneth Richardson, was charged with driving on a suspended license.

Orlando police officers said the incident started when they located a black, Ford Ranger pickup that was reported stolen at South Orange Avenue and Illiana Street. Officers said they stopped the truck in the parking lot of an ABC Liquors on South Orange Avenue.

Police said there were there people in the truck. The driver, identified as Kenneth Richardson, 48, was removed from the truck and taken into custody.

However, while handcuffing Richardson, the passenger moved over into the driver's seat and crashed the stolen truck into the police car several times, officers said.

"It was loud. Sounded like, 'Boom, boom!' Then, I came outside and I see a lot of cops and sirens," said witness Jesus Sanabria.

Police said the man then drove away at a high-rate of speed, striking an officer and two other parked cars in the parking lot. While searching the area, officers said they found the truck abandoned in the 1000 block of 19th Street.

Richardson walked out of the Orange County Jail Tuesday afternoon and made a few comments about the incident.

"Who's truck was it?" reporter Deneige Broom asked.

"I couldn't tell you," Richardson said. "I don't know these folks man."

Police said they are searching for the man who is described as a white man, between the ages of 30 to 40 years old, dark brown or black hair, and measuring between 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds.

The officer that was struck by the truck was not injured.