Philly Police ID Suspect Accused Of Dragging Police Officer Following Traffic Stop
By Steve Beck, Kristina Dougherty and Justin Finch
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia police officer's right leg was injured after he was dragged by a car following a traffic stop Thursday morning.
The incident began at about 11:30 a.m. at 32nd Street and W. Susquehanna Avenue in the city's Strawberry Mansion section.
According to investigators, Officer Joseph Kochmer and his partner stopped a car for a traffic violation.
Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross said the driver was very evasive with Officer Kochmer and his partner.
Police say the officer observed the driver displaying nervous behavior and moving around in the vehicle.
"All along when the car is stopped the guy is being evasive," said Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross. "He's not giving right answers, and it aroused suspicion from the outset."
After the officers ran the registration, it was determined that the license plate number on the car did not match the car.
When Officer Kochmer approached the car again and asked the driver to exit the vehicle, Ross said the male attempted to speed away.
Ross said Officer Kochmer pulled out his gun and the suspect, identified by police as 23-year-old Dominique Fallins, tried to take his weapon. Ross said the driver then took off, dragging Officer Kochmer.
"He just knows he goes down, and once he hears the shot, you have to imagine, put yourself in his mind, he didn't know what happened," Ross said about Kochmer's partner.
According to Ross, Officer Kochmer was dragged by the car causing injury to his right leg.
Fallins was able to flee from the area, but police say he was later arrested on the 2500 block of North 32nd Street with minor abrasions to his left arm from glass particles.
Police say Officer Kochmer discharged his weapon as he was struck by the vehicle.
"It was like a gunshot," said neighbor Aaron Mines. "I heard a gunshot. I heard like a car skid off."
Officer Kochmer is 32-years-old and a five-year veteran of the force. Police say he was treated at Temple Hospital and released Thursday evening.
Authorities say Fallins will be charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Fleeing Police and related offenses.
The incident remains under investigation.
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