The 17-year-old car thief was captured at the end of a search with the help of a police helicopter.
By Aryeh Savir, TPS
A Palestinian Arab car thief ran over and killed an Israeli policeman as he drove through a police checkpoint on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old resident of Ramallah, who was driving a stolen car, failed to stop at a police checkpoint in the Sharon area that was deployed to stop him, and while running through it, he killed Officer Barak Meshulam and then sped away. He was captured at the end of a search with the help of a police helicopter.
MDA paramedic Aviv Solomon, who treated Meshulam at the scene, recounted that the policeman “who suffered a very severe multi-system injury was unconscious. We performed medical tests but he was without signs of life and we had no choice but to determine his death. ”
Meshulam, 29 from Kfar Saba, is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and two siblings.
Chief Commissioner Yaakov Shabtail eulogized Meshulam and noted that “he has been involved in policing all his adult life for just the right motives of patriotism, and the importance of protecting the citizens of the country. The pursuit of contact flowed through Barak’s veins and it was well known to his commanders and comrades.”
“In every activity and operation, he was the first to run forward and charge. In his role, he served the citizens of the city and the region faithfully and he was an example of initiative, professionalism, and great determination,” he said.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident. All aspects are being investigated, but at the moment, it is being examined as a criminal incident.
Last month, police volunteer Amichai Carmeli was run over and killed after a vehicle that was driven by Bedouins from Rahat broke through a checkpoint near the Beit Dagan junction he was manning.