Stapleton man ran over police officer with SUV, cops allege

 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A Stapleton man nearly ran over a cop Monday, then plowed into two cars in a stolen SUV, prosecutors allege.

John Branch, 30, of Hardy Street, was spotted entering a stolen 2006 GMC Envoy around 7:30 p.m. at Irving Place and Delford Street, court papers stated. The location is around the corner from his home.

Cops tried to box in the SUV with a patrol car, and told Branch to get out of the vehicle. He allegedly responded by ramming into a car in front of him, then hitting a second vehicle across the street.

An officer reached into the SUV to try to pull Branch out, but the suspect threw the vehicle into reverse and backed up with the cop hanging on. The policeman fell off, sustaining a sprained ankle and foot, before Branch slammed the SUV into a fence and street sign. He fled on foot, but cops picked him up on Tuesday.

Online state court records show Branch was remanded after his arraignment Thursday in Stapleton Criminal Court.

He’s charged with felony counts of assault and stolen-property possession. He’s also accused of misdemeanor counts of unauthorized vehicle use, obstruction, resisting arrest and unlawful fleeing.