Yolanda Jones
The Commercial Appeal
Copyright 2006 The Commercial Appeal, Inc.
A Memphis police officer was injured when he was run over and dragged by a suspect fleeing a drug bust Tuesday in North Memphis.
Shortly before 7 p.m., the officer and his partner approached a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe in front of the Chelsea Express in the 2000 block of Chelsea near University, said police spokesman Sgt. Vince Higgins.
“Someone yelled ‘Five-O,’” Higgins said, alerting the driver of the Tahoe to the presence of the police.
“At that point the suspect turned the vehicle and ran over the officer, dragging him 12 feet.”
The other officer fired shots at the vehicle, shooting out the rear window and damaging the sports utility vehicle.
“We are still investigating to see if the suspect returned fire on the officers,” Higgins said.
Higgins said the injured officer was in critical condition when he was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis but was later upgraded to noncritical.
Both officers, who were not named, have been routinely relieved of duty as police investigate.
Tuesday night, police were searching for the silver Tahoe with damage to the windows. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH.
- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380
Photo; Dave Darnell The Commercial Appeal, Police investigate the scene at Chelsea and May where an officer was injured while investigating a possible drug transaction. The unidentified officer was struck by the suspect’s SUV and dragged, police said.
July 20, 2006