A Clayton County police officer was dragged by a vehicle during a traffic stop near Charles R. Drew High School in Riverdale, Georgia, on Wednesday, 21 October, as investigators continued searching for the driver.
The incident happened at about 2.15pm at the junction of Garden Walk Boulevard and Medical Center Drive. Police said the driver suddenly accelerated while the officer was at the vehicle, dragging them before fleeing the scene.
The officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries to their head and body but was later discharged and described as doing well. Their name has not been released.
Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said the officer had been carrying out a routine traffic stop when the vehicle sped away.
Investigators recovered the car, but the driver remained at large. Officers also searched an area around Hidden Brook Trail and Cedar Hurst Trail in south Fulton County in connection with the incident.
Police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. No description of the driver or details of possible charges had been released.
The police response temporarily closed a key road near the school, according to Clayton County Public Schools. Officials said no pupils or staff were involved and the campus was not placed under lockdown.
Vince Champion, of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, said vehicle stops were among the most hazardous duties faced by law enforcement officers because they could not know what was happening inside a car or what an occupant might do.
“Traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things that law enforcement does — because a lot can go wrong,” he said.
Anyone with information about the driver’s whereabouts can submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers Atlanta by calling 404-577-8477, texting “CSGA” followed by the tip to 274637, or submitting information online through Crime Stoppers Atlanta.
