text: Local police chief Terry Rozema spoke out on Wednesday to defend his officer and argue that deadly force was necessary . An Arizona police chief has voiced his support for his officer after dashcam footage emerged of him mounting a sidewalk in his speeding police car and knocking down an armed suspect. Video of the February 19 incident emerged on Tuesday and shows a cop car running into a suspect walking down a street in Marana, northwest of Tucon, with a rifle. Local police chief Terry Rozema spoke out on Wednesday to defend his officer and argue that deadly force was necessary. Speaking to CNN, Rozema was asked if Officer Michael Rapiejko was fortunate not to kill suspect Mario Valencia, 36. 'That very well may be... that it's luck that he is still alive. The fact of the matter remains, though, deadly force was authorized,' Rozema said. 'So if he ends up dying in that situation, (then) he ends up dying, and that's unfortunate, (but) that's not the desire of everybody,' the chief added. The footage has further stirred debate about the type of force it is appropiate for police to use. This latest incident following cell phone footage earlier this month capturing South Carolina police officer Michael Slager fatally shotting Water Scott, 50, five times in the back as he was running away. In this latest video, Valencia is captured walking along a street in Marana, carrying what appears to be a rifle. He points the loaded weapon into the air and a shot rings out. WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE . Scroll down for videos . Deliberate act: Valencia (pictured, left, in his mug shot) remained in hospital for two days before being booked into jail. Police have since spoken out in defense of Rapiejko's actions in the town of Marana, Arizona . Target: The police officer in the other vehicle warns  Rapiejko that the suspect is loaded and tells him to 'stand off'. But in apparent defiance of his advice, Rapiejo drives straight toward unsuspecting Valencia (pictured) Horrific: Seconds later, Rapiejo's vehicle mounts the curb (pictured) and smashes into the suspect's body . Hit: In this screen grab, from the dashcam video, Valenica appears to turn toward the car as it strikes him . A police officer in one of the patrol cars says: 'One round just went out. He's definitely loaded.' He then tells his colleague, Officer Michael Rapiejko, in the other vehicle: 'Stand off, the gun is loaded.' But apparently ignoring his advice, Rapiejko overtakes the officer's car, before speeding straight toward Valencia. Seconds later, his vehicle mounts the curb and smashes into the suspect's body. Valencia is sent flying into the air, while the car crashes through a concrete wall before coming to a halt amid debris. The other officer can be heard shouting in shock: 'Oh! Jesus Christ, man down.' At the end of the footage, obtained by KOLD, Rapiejko is captured emerging from his vehicle and approaching Valencia, while other cops exit their own cars with their guns raised. Valencia was rushed to University of Arizona Medical Center in serious condition following the crash outside a self storage facility on February 19. He was eventually booked into jail two days later. Pozema argued that Rapiejko may actually have saved Valencia's life because we don't know what he would have done next. Smash: Valencia is sent flying into the air, while the car crashes through a concrete wall (pictured) before coming to a halt amid debris. The other cop can be heard shouting in shock: 'Oh! Jesus Christ, man down' High-speed: Bits of concrete can be seen sailing through the sky as Rapiejko's patrol car continues traveling . 'We don't know that if (Rapiejko) lets him go for another 10 seconds, (Valencia) doesn't take somebody out in the parking lot,' Rozema said. 'And then we're answering some completely different questions: 'Why didn't you act sooner? ... This guy had a gun ... Why didn't you stop this guy before he shot my wife, before he shot my husband, before he shot my child?' ' In February, Sergeant Chris Warren also appeared to support the deliberate crash, telling KOLD that Valencia 'was a dangerous felon who'd been on a crime spree throughout the morning'. This crime spree allegedly involved theft at a convenience store at Columbus Avenue and 29th Street, vandalism and burglary at the Tucson Baptist Temple, a home invasion and theft of a car. Cracked: Valencia, was rushed to University of Arizona Medical Center in a serious condition following the crash outside a self storage facility on February 19. Above, Rapiejko's car window appears to be cracked . It culminated in the alleged theft of a rifle from Walmart at 8280 North Cortaro Road. From there, the suspect fled to 5650 West Coca Cola Place, where he was struck and injured by Rapiejko's vehicle. 'He'd just stolen a weapon, loaded it, was not obeying commands from officers and walking toward occupied businesses. It's a busy time of morning, a lot of employees at work,' said Sgt Warren. 'We had to take immediate action and make sure he didn't get inside those businesses.' Rapiejko was put on standard administrative leave after the crash, because it was considered use of force. However, the Pima County Attorney's Office cleared the officer of any wrongdoing and he is back on the force, Sgt Warren said. Valencia, meanwhile, is facing several felony charges for his 'spree'. Valencia had already been approached by police near a post office following the alleged Walmart theft, it is reported. There, he had apparently threatened suicide, before firing the gun and fleeing. Another view: Despite the shocking footage of the crash, Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema has defended Officer Rapiejko's actions. Above, this dashcam video was taken from inside the other officer's car . Swerving: The second video shows Rapiejko's car swerving across the road and heading toward Valencia . Life-saving? The vehicle smashes into the suspect (the black shape in the air, between the tree and the car) Apprehended: At the end of the footage, obtained by CBS affiliate KOLD-TV, Rapiejko can be seen emerging from his vehicle and approaching Valencia (under the tree), while other cops emerge with their guns raised .
target: Arizona police chief Terry Rozema has voiced his support for his officer after dashcam footage emerged .
  Officer Michael Rapiejko is seen mounting a sidewalk in his speeding police car and knocking down armed suspect Mario Valencia .
  Pozema argued that Rapiejko may actually have saved Valencia's life because we don't know what he would have done next .
  'We don't know that if (Rapiejko) lets him go for another 10 seconds, (Valencia) doesn't take somebody out in the parking lot,' Rozema said .