A Fort Worth man will spend life in prison after trying to run over a police officer: According to a release, Ronnie Jackson, 41, was sentenced by a Tarrant County jury to life in prison after finding him guilty of aggravated assault of a peace officer with a deadly weapon in a 2020 attack against a Fort Worth police officer.

The incident took place on June 13, 2020, when officers tried to stop Jackson, who was driving a stolen vehicle on I-820 would not pull over. As he neared the Camp Bowie West Boulevard exit, police officer Matt Brazeal stood on the side of the road, throwing out spike strips to get him to stop.

Instead, Jackson drove toward Officer Brazeal, hitting him, then running him over. Jackson fled the scene and hid in a nearby neighborhood. Brazeal was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery for extensive, life-threatening injuries.

Police said Brazeal tried to jump out of the way, "but it was too late and he was struck with such force that the equipment from his gun belt was ripped from his body and scattered throughout the ditch along with freeway as he was caught beneath the vehicle."

Jackson dragged Brazeal beneath his car for 100 feet until he was eventually dislodged as Jackson drove off on the service road.

Brazeal was in the Intensive Care Unit until June 29, then moved from the hospital to a rehab facility on August 14. It took him three years to recover but he rejoined the force in September 2023.

Tarrant County Assistant District Attorneys Lisa Callaghan and D.J. Estes prosecuted the case.

"This person is a danger to everyone he comes in contact with," Estes told the jury. "It is safer for everyone, including the defendant, if he is in prison."

Callaghan said it was no accident. "Someone was out joyriding and didn't give a damn who he hit," she told the jury. "What (witnesses) saw was an intentional mowing down of a police officer."

Callaghan asked the jury what message they wanted to send to police officers and the community with their sentence. "You are the moral compass of our community," she told them. "Do the right thing. Point true north." Just like they'd say on Law & Order.

DA Investigator Ben Lopez and Victim Advocate Laura Medina worked on the case as well.