PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man has been charged with crimes including aggravated assault, fleeing police and other offenses after he allegedly dragged a police officer nearly half a mile with his SUV during a traffic stop.
A pair of officers pulled Amir Dickerson, 25, over at 53rd Street and Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia for traffic violations around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, police said.
Investigators said they spotted a bulge on the right side of Dickerson's waistband and asked him to turn off the vehicle. Police said that he first refused, but then did what officers asked.
Related
As one of the officers tried to open the driver's door, police said that Dickerson re-started the SUV and took off, causing the officer to fall into the vehicle.
According to police, the officer was holding both the SUV's steering wheel and Dickerson's arm to stop him from grabbing a gun while the vehicle was fleeing the scene on Baltimore Avenue.
"The entire time, dragging the police officer, who was partially inside of the vehicle, laying on the driver with his upper body, and his legs were hanging out of the driver’s door," Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
Related
Police said the SUV hit parked cars before striking another parked vehicle at 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue. Other officers on the scene arrested Dickerson.
The officer who was dragged was hospitalized and has been released. Police said they recovered the gun.
KYW Newsradio Staff and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
