Minneapolis Cop Dragged By Fleeing Driver: Investigators

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis police officer was injured Saturday when he was dragged by a driver fleeing in a vehicle with stolen license plates, investigators said.

Saturday's incident marked the second time in about two weeks that an on-duty Minneapolis police officer was injured.

"I can’t thank the officers of this department enough for their tireless efforts in service of our residents, and I am grateful that our officer was not more seriously injured this afternoon," Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement.

"Given this individual’s reaction, it is clear that he had no intentions of complying with law enforcement or allowing himself to be taken into custody. Rest assured, we will find him and bring him to justice."

At about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Minneapolis police responded to the report of a "suspicious" vehicle with a man inside.

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The car was parked on the 3600 block of 42nd Street East. The vehicle's license plates were run and came up as stolen, investigators said.

When officers approached the vehicle, they found a man slumped over in the driver’s seat, according to police.

Knowing the license plates were stolen, the officers announced themselves and told the driver that he was under arrest, investigators said.

The driver resisted arrest, placed the car in drive, and quickly accelerated the vehicle forward with one officer partially trapped inside the open driver’s door, according to police.

The vehicle dragged an officer a short distance until it rammed into the support pillar of a nearby structure, investigators said.

When the vehicle reversed, the injured officer escaped and rolled away from the vehicle to avoid being run over, according to police.

Officers — including the one injured while being dragged — pursued the vehicle but terminated the chase when they lost sight of it, investigators said.

The injured officer was able to take himself to the Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.