Ky. Police Officer Seriously Injured After Being Dragged During Traffic Stop
What to know
- A Lexington police officer was seriously injured Tuesday night after being dragged by a fleeing vehicle during a traffic stop at a gas station.
- Police said the driver sped off as the officer made contact with the vehicle, leading to a brief pursuit and the arrest of the suspect.
- The driver, who has a lengthy criminal history, faces multiple felony charges, including first‑degree assault of a police officer.
An officer with the Lexington Police Department sustained serious injuries after being dragged by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop Tuesday night.
The officer, who has not been publicly identified, stopped a vehicle at the Meijer Gas Station on Ruccio Way at 10:43 p.m., Lexington police said in a news release. Ruccio Way is off Reynolds Road, near Nicholasville Road.
“As the officer made contact with the vehicle, the driver fled, dragging the officer,” the release stated.
The suspect, Naqeeb Mufallah, 31, was apprehended after a brief pursuit, police said. He is charged with first-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, possession of handgun by convicted felon, leaving the scene of an accident or failure to render aid with death or serious physical injury and unrelated warrants.
The officer was taken to a local hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Mufallah, who also goes by Malachi Greathouse in court records, has a lengthy criminal history.
He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, attempted intimidation a participant in the legal process and second-degree criminal mischief in May 2025, according to court records. He was given credit for 10 days of time served and sentenced to two years of probation.
In 2018, Mufallah pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree assault of a police officer, second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. According to court documents, he kicked and hit officers after attempting to break into a woman’s home.
Mufallah was sentenced to six years in prison in that case. Charges of first-degree attempted burglary, carrying a concealed deadly weapon and second-degree persistent felony offender were dropped in the plea deal, according to court records.
Mufallah committed that crime while on probation, according to court records. In November 2016, he pleaded guilty to receiving a stolen firearm, second-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges in Franklin County. He was sentenced to two years of probation.
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