ORLANDO, Fla. — A man is facing a charge of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer after a trooper was dragged about 100 feet by a car during a traffic stop early Thursday.
- Trooper treated at hospital for abrasions, bruises
- Passenger and initial driver arrested
- FHP investigation is ongoing, agency says
Christopher Lewis, 19 — originally the front passenger of the car before he took the wheel — was the person charged. Two others, including a juvenile, will face other charges.
The incident happened on Colonial Drive, just west of Orange Avenue, at 3 a.m. That's when Trooper Victor Rivera pulled over a 2014 Toyota Corolla for going 81 mph in a 40 mph zone, the Florida Highway Patrol says. The stretch of road is also a work zone.
A train was passing at the time, forcing the Corolla to stop at the train tracks, and the driver — identified by FHP as Elijah Wilson — jumped out and ran.
"This is becoming an increasing problem for law enforcement. The bad guys need to realize you’re going to get caught." FHP Lt. Kim Montes said. "The driver eventually returned to the Corolla, where the trooper attempted to physically detain him," Montes said.
The trooper chased Wilson, who eventually made his way back to the car, and that’s when troopers say Lewis, the passenger, hopped into the driver’s seat and took off, dragging Wilson and Rivera along the pavement for about 100 feet.
The incident was all caught on the trooper's dashboard camera.
"That trooper’s very lucky. He’s got scrapes and bruises and abrasions," Montes said.
Lewis, Wilson, and a 17-year-old riding with them, were able to get away, but FHP said troopers volunteered to stay well past their normal shift to help find them. Using the car's license plate information, troopers by Thursday afternoon had tracked them all down.
Rivera, who has been a trooper for about four years, was treated at a hospital for abrasions, bumps, and bruises and has been released, according to Montes.
Montes says FHP trains troopers to protect themselves, but ultimately troopers do whatever they can to protect the public.
“If this (driver) will do this to an officer, what will they do to the general public? So our ultimate goal is to get them off the road,” Montes said.