Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Officer dragged in chase
By Betty Lawrence
A Coldwater man, Mark A. Miller, 62, of 3278 Slavik Road, faces charges following a Monday evening chase in Coldwater that dragged a Coldwater patrolman down a street and damaged a police cruiser.
According to a report from the police department, Patrolman Dave Powell attempted to stop a pickup truck after it failed to yield from a private drive off Woodview Drive, just north of West Main Street.
After the vehicle was stopped, Patrolman Powell asked the man for his driver's license, however, the driver attempted to leave. At that time, Powell reached into the truck to grab the key or gear selector when the suspect put the truck in drive and started driving down the street.
Patrolman Powell, still reaching in the window of the truck, was pulled a short distance down the street as the suspect drove away. The report indicates he was uninjured.
As the truck proceeded north on Woodview Drive, Sgt. Jason Miller stopped his cruiser in front of the suspect's vehicle at the intersection of West Main Street on North Cedar Street.
The suspect was forcibly removed from the truck after he refused to comply with an order to exit the truck. As the suspect continued to resist and struggle with officers, he was tasered by Powell.
One of the police cruisers sustained minor damage when the suspect's truck rolled forward into the cruiser.
The Mercer County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene to assist and take the crash report.
A Coldwater EMS Squad transported Miller to Mercer Health for treatment.