Covington Police Officer Injured in Head-On Crash

Shortly before midnight last night (March 29, 2022), Officers with the Covington Police Department
attempted to stop a vehicle on Boston Street for speeding. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 25 year-old Nestor Javier Sanchez-Martinez, refused to stop for CPD units, leading officers on a slow-speed pursuit, with speeds reaching 20 to 30 mph. As the chase reached Jefferson and Columbia Streets, Martinez entered the opposing lane of travel and accelerated head-on into a fully marked CPD unit, injuring the officer inside. 

The injured CPD Officer was transported to the St. Tammany Parish Hospital, where he was treated and released for his minor injuries. Martinez was also transported to a local hospital, where he was medically cleared by hospital staff and transported to the St. Tammany Parish Jail to be booked accordingly on the following charges: Attempted First Degree Murder of a Peace Officer,  Aggravated Flight, Reckless Operation, Speeding, Traffic Control Signals, Improper Lane Usage, and Driver Must Be Licensed. More criminal charges are possibly forthcoming, pending the toxicology test results.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the crash investigation.