New Jersey Deputy Dragged by Suspect

Updated: August 31st, 2007 05:16 PM EDT
http://www.officer.com/online/article.j ... 1&id=37665
PATERSON, N.J. --

A Passaic County sheriff was dragged 700 feet by his own sport utility vehicle Thursday when it was stolen by a man he had pulled over.

Members of the Passaic County Sheriff's Warrant Division pulled the man over on a fugitive warrant stop near the intersection of Liberty Street and Wayne Avenue in Paterson around 5 p.m.

According to Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale, the man, while being questioned, became nervous after handing over what appeared to be false identification.

"There were fictitious passports and that's what the investigation is really unfolding at this point," Speziale said.

The man was standing near the driver's side of the unmarked police car driven by 15-year police force veteran Detective Sal Ayoub. Police said the man tried to flee the scene.

"He jumped in the vehicle, the officer struggled with him," Speziale said.

Ayoud was dragged 700 feet, and Speziale said he barely escaped falling underneath the moving vehicle while the man hit several parked cars along Liberty Avenue.

The man drove the unmarked car through the streets of Paterson for several blocks and then bailed out near Chamberlain and Paterson Avenues.

"They were all over, so it was like, he had no chance," witness John Tamoosh said. "He comes here, where's he going to run to, you know?"

Tamoosh said he watched as the man jumped into Molly Ann's Brook, he said officers caught the man in seconds.

"They got the K-9 units to go in the water after him to catch him," Tamoosh said.

Authorities have not determined the identity of the man. Police reported his arrest to immigration officials as now mandated by New Jersey state law.

Both the man and the officer were taken to Saint Joseph's Medical Center. The officer was in stable condition.

Police said the man faces charges of eluding arrest and assault. They said he will spend the night at Saint Joseph's Medical Center until they determine his immigration status in the U.S.