Man arrested after crashing into police car and hitting police officer

A man is behind bars after police say he crashed into a police car and struck a police officer.

Anthony Texas Police say the crash happened at 5 A.M Saturday on I-10 West near Anthony.

Police say they were directing traffic when 33-year old Alejandro Benitez was driving and disregarded all safety devices and crashed into the back of a marked patrol unit.

Police say the force of the impact from the collision with the patrol unit caused the unit to careen 20 yards striking the officer who was trying to move away from the impact.

The Officer was transported to a local area hospital and was treated for injury to the left side of his body. Benitez was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $50,000 bond for intoxication Assault on a peace officer.