Police officer in crash out of hospital

A Spokane police officer injured when a woman rear-ended his squad car was released from the hospital last night and will return to work in “a few weeks,” police said today.

Officer Jeff Graves has a soar back, neck and arms from the collision Wednesday on North Maple Street just south of Sinto Avenue.

The woman who police say hit him, Debra Hatcher, faces a vehicular assault charge and has been placed on paid leave from her job as a third-grade teacher at Finch Elementary School, according to Spokane Public Schools.

Hatcher, 54, is in her second year teaching at the school after transferring from Audubon Elementary.

Police think she was under the influence of prescription medications at the time of the 1 p.m. crash.