The 19-year-old driver can be heard shouting, “Stop, you’re killing me! You’re killing me!” as the officer attempted to put the car in park.
BRADENTON, Fla. — WARNING: This video contains graphic language that may be offensive to some viewers.
What began as a routine traffic stop quickly turned into a hazardous situation on Tuesday night, resulting in a Bradenton police officer being trapped between a vehicle and his dashboard.
Officer Shane Sharp stopped 19-year-old Lenny Macias-Rangel shortly after 11:30 p.m., citing a traffic violation at the intersection of Martin Luther King Avenue E and 12th Street E.
Officer Sharp said he followed Macias-Rangel’s car for several blocks before the teen pulled over.
Video shows Officer Sharp approaching Macias-Rangel’s window to ask why he didn’t stop sooner.
“I did stop!” the teen argues. “Sir, I’m scared. I don’t even know what I did.”
The officer can be heard asking Macias-Rangel to turn his car off a total of 12 times over concerns he might flee.
“When Macias-Rangel refused to comply, Officer Sharp opened the driver’s side door and attempted to shift the car into park,” according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Macias-Rangel did not shift his car into park, but repeatedly shouted, “Stop, you’re killing me! You’re killing me!”
As the struggle continued, a second officer ran over to assist. That’s when the video shows Macias-Rangel hitting the gas, pinning Officer Sharp between himself and the dashboard.
The car made it about 150 feet before crashing into a pole.
Macias-Rangel can be seen struggling with officers as they pulled him out of the car to arrest him. Police said he struck several of them.
After he was evaluated for his injuries, Macias-Rangel was transported to the Manatee County Jail.
Officer Sharp was rushed to the hospital. He sustained a concussion, a separated shoulder and other arm and leg injuries. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday morning.
Police said they found more than a kilogram of marijuana and 62 THC vape cartridges in a search of Macias-Rangel’s car.
Macias-Rangel was charged with:
- Two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer
- Four counts of battery on a law enforcement officer
- Resisting an officer with violence
- Fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer
- Possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver a controlled substance
- Driving with a suspended license
According to the police department, Macias-Rangel has several previous charges, including domestic battery, leaving the scene of a crash and fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer.
The investigation is ongoing.
Officer Sharp joined the Bradenton Police Department in 2020. He is a patrol officer and a member of the department’s SWAT Team.
