DOVER, DELAWARE (10/15/2015) A 28-year-old man was arrested after two Dover police officers were dragged by a vehicle early today, authorities said.
The incident was reported at 2:16 a.m. at 1019 Walker Road, in the Hamlet Shopping Center at the Saulsbury Road (Route 15) intersection.
The suspect was identified as Christopher Brewer, of the 1400 block of Joshua Clayton Road in the Rodney Village neighborhood south of Dover.
Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman gave this account:
“Officers were responding to a Loitering/Suspicious Subject complaint, where a store employee stated that Brewer was loitering in the parking lot, throwing trash out of his vehicle window, and refusing to leave the property. Two officers arrived to find Brewer reclined in the driver seat of a burgundy colored Chrysler 200.
“The officers believed the suspect was sleeping or under the influence and attempted to wake Brewer by knocking on the window and giving him verbal commands. Brewer suddenly began moving within the vehicle, possibly reaching for an item.
“Officers opened the driver side door to take Brewer into custody, but Brewer shut the door on the officers. The officers then attempted to remove Brewer from the vehicle once more. At that time Brewer put the vehicle in reverse and quickly accelerated.
“Both officers were dragged across the parking lot by Brewer, who then fled after putting the car in drive. Brewer led other arriving officers on a brief vehicle pursuit that ended after he struck a curb which disabled his vehicle.”
Brewer was arrested in the area of Lakewood Place and Ross Street, Hoffman said.
The officers involved were identified as Patrolman Anthony D’Errico and Patrolman Willie Johnson.
D’Errico was treated at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for multiple wounds and abrasions, Hoffman said.
Johnson was admitted to the hospital with a leg injury.
D’Errico joined the Dover police force last year, and Johnson has been a Dover officer for two years, Hoffman said.
Brewer was charged with:
- Vehicular Assault 1st Degree
- Vehicular Assault 2nd Degree
- Resisting Arrest with Force/Violence (2x)
- Disregard Police Officer Signal
- Criminal Mischief Under $1,000 (2x)
- DUI
- Leaving the Scene of Collision Resulting in Injury
- Aggressive Driving
- Multiple Traffic Violations Related to Pursuit
Bond information was not immediately available.