Sept. 25--A Fitchburg police officer was injured Monday morning when he was dragged 450 feet, or nearly one city block, by a teenage driver who pinned the officer's arm in his car window and sped off, police said.
The 16-year-old boy was arrested a short time later after a foot chase. He was tentatively charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety and resisting an officer and was taken to the Juvenile Reception Center, said Lt. Chad Brecklin.
Officer Jay Wilson was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released. Wilson, 54, is a 27-year veteran of the department, Brecklin said.
The incident started around 10 a.m. in the 1900 block of Pike Drive, when officers made a traffic stop. "The officers learned (the driver) was wanted on an outstanding warrant, and also was listed as a missing person," Brecklin said.
The driver refused to cooperate with Wilson and another officer, who asked that he exit the vehicle, and resisted the officers' attempts to open the door, Brecklin said. As the officers continued trying to open the door, the driver put up the window, trapping Wilson's elbow in the window, then sped off.
After being dragged about 450 feet, Wilson fell to the pavement. "He's very fortunate he wasn't hurt more seriously," Brecklin said.
The driver abandoned his vehicle in a parking lot of Park Bank, 2802 Fish Hatchery Road, and fled on foot. He was arrested behind the Valley View apartment complex in the 2900 block of Fish hatchery Road, after a brief foot pursuit, Brecklin said.
There were no other injuries, but the teen driver complained of breathing problems when he was arrested, Brecklin said.
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