Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse police officer escaped injury this morning when a suspect took off from a traffic stop and dragged the officer along with him, police said. It began about 2:10 a.m. when Officer William Kittell pulled over a car in the 200 block of Smith Street, Sgt. Tom Connellan said. The street is on a hill and...
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse police officer escaped injury this morning when a suspect took off from a traffic stop and dragged the officer along with him, police said.
It began about 2:10 a.m. when Officer William Kittell pulled over a car in the 200 block of Smith Street, Sgt. Tom Connellan said. The street is on a hill and as the driver was putting the car into park, the vehicle rolled into the police car that had just pulled him over, Connellan said.
While Kittell was talking to the driver, the man appeared to be trying to hide something between his legs, Connellan said. Not knowing what the suspect might be hiding or reaching for, Kittell grabbed the suspect’s arm and shoulder, Connellan said.
The suspect then began to drive away with Kittell hanging off the side of the car, Connellan said. Kittell lifted his feet and the car carried Kittell up the hill, Connellan said.
Kittell was able to reach inside the car and forced the gear shifter to put it in park, Connellan said.
Police identified the driver as Tryail Martin, 24, of 338 Apple St. Police identified the object Martin was trying to hide as a bag of the drug Ecstasy.
Martin was charged with reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence, both felonies, criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors, and harassment, a violation.