Man accused of striking trooper during roadblock for tanker truck fire

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A man is in custody after driving through a blocked road and hitting a Tennessee State Trooper Thursday night.

Christian Franklin, 24, is charged with failure to obey a traffic officer, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, evading arrest, possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest in a vehicle, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Memphis Police officers were on the scene of a tanker truck fire near I-55 and West Mallory when Franklin drove through the roadblock striking the trooper head-on, said police.

According to the MPD report, officers attempted to stop Franklin but he refused to stop.

After a police pursuit, officers and the state trooper were able to stop Franklin at South Parkway East and Humber Street.

Police said Franklin refused to get out of the car and put his hands behind his back, so officers removed him from the vehicle and used force to arrest him.

MPD found about 227 grams of marijuana in his car and cigar wrappers.

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