Second Incident Involving Illinois State Trooper Dragged By Fleeing Driver This Week
CHICAGO (CBS)—An Illinois State Trooper was injured early Sunday morning after being dragged by a fleeing driver at I-94 and 18th Street.
The Chicago District trooper responded to a report that a man and woman were walking away from a single-car crash.
The police officer was speaking to them when a family member pulled up to the scene.
The man ran to the car and the driver started taking off.
The trooper grabbed the steering wheel as he attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver kept going.
The trooper was dragged about a half block until he fell onto the pavement.
The vehicle crashed at 18th and Halsted, and the offender fled on foot.
The trooper was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The case is still under investigation.
The driver is not in custody.
A similar incident took place Wednesday on the I-290 eastbound ramp to Damen. State police say a trooper on a traffic stop was almost struck by another vehicle traveling up the ramp. He ordered the driver to pull over.
Law enforcement says a brief struggle took place with the driver taking off and the trooper carried by the vehicle for a short distance before forcing the car into park.
The trooper was later treated and released.
Police say the driver, 31-year-old Steven Gouveia of Chicago, is charged with attempted first degree murder, misdemeanor possession of cannabis and was issued two citations, including driving while his license was suspended.