Waukegan police officer dragged by driver of stolen car during getaway

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- Waukegan police are searching for the driver of a stolen car who dragged a suburban police officer when police attempted to apprehend him at a gas station around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Waukegan police said patrol officers spotted the stolen car and followed it to the gas station. Officers arrived and surrounded the parking lot. With weapons drawn they ordered the driver to stop and exit the vehicle, but instead the driver edged forward and then took off, dragging the officer holding onto the car on the driver's side for a short distance.

The incident was captured on cell phone video by a barber working across the street. Kenny was cutting hair right in front of the window of his barbershop when he noticed police surrounding a car parked at a gas pump with their weapons drawn, ordering the driver to get out.

"They have the guns drawn and they're banging on the window and I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know if the guys had guns, and they were pointed at me so if they were to shoot I would have caught some bullets," Kenny said.

Another camera posted outside the security company across the street also captured portions of the incident.

"I hope he's okay. I watched the whole video and I said, man, that guy has a lot of courage to jump on a car and try to stop it," Kenny said.

The officer suffered minor injuries. Other officers followed the car for several blocks as the driver fled the scene, but eventually gave up the chase after determining it to be too dangerous.

The car is described as a gray four-door 2005 Volkswagen with Illinois license plate Z843693.

The suspect that police were able to pull out of the car before the incident has not yet been charged.