A Waukegan police officer was injured last week when he was thrown from a vehicle whose driver fled during a traffic stop.
The officer was dragged about 10 feet before he was thrown from the fleeing car, according to reports. The officer struck his head on the pavement and suffered scrapes, bruises and abrasions, police said.
The alleged driver was arrested Thursday in Ohio.
The incident began at about 11:30 p.m. on July 17 when officers stopped a 2005 Lexus in the 3000 block of Grand Avenue. Officers noted a cannabis smell and the driver told them that he had smoked marijuana in the car earlier that day, which is illegal, police said.
The driver, Darius N. Mingo, 37, exited the vehicle, but became agitated as officers questioned him, police said. Mingo pushed through the officers and re-entered his car, driving off at a high rate of speed and dragging the officer who attempted to stop the car, according to authorities.
The car was later spotted in North Chicago, but again fled from police. The following day, Mingo was stopped by police in Ross County, in southern Ohio, and he was taken into custody.
He is facing local charges of aggravated battery to a police officer and additional counts.
