BRADENTON, Fla., (WFLA) – A Bradenton police officer is recovering after being dragged by a car during a traffic stop.
The incident happened on May 20 at 11:35 p.m. at night along Martin Luther King Avenue East.
Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan reported that Officer Shane Sharp is currently recuperating at home. They are uncertain about his return to duty, as they await confirmation on whether surgery is necessary.
Officer Shane Sharp tried to pull over a car with a busted headlight Tuesday night. After going several blocks, the driver finally pulled over.
“He approached the car, detected a strong smell of marijuana emanating from it, and requested the driver to turn off the car. In fact, he asked the driver to turn it off 12 times,” explained Chief Melanie Bevan.
According to Bevan, Sharp opened the car door, reached inside, and managed to put the car in park. A struggle followed, during which the suspect was shouting that he was going to be killed. The video shows and captures the officer stating that his gun was not in his hands.
Another officer came to help try and put the car in park; then, the driver took off.
“Travels 150 feet, dragging Officer Sharp, and as you saw in the video, collides with tree, fence, everything,” Bevan said.
Later on, police said the driver was identified as Lenny Macias-Rangel.
“He decided to attack my officer and put him in harm’s way,” the chief said. “We’re looking at aggravated battery charges, fleeing and eluding charges.”
According to the chief, Macias-Rangel has a previous criminal history and had 2.4 pounds of marijuana in the car he was driving.
Sharp suffered a concussion, arm injuries, a separated shoulder, and leg injuries.
“My officer could have really been seriously injured, and that could have turned out much, much differently than it did. So, by the grace of God,” the chief said.
Sharp has been behind the badge with the Bradenton Police Department for five years and has five years of law enforcement experience up north.
“It’s a scary moment,” Bevan said. “I think it’s a scary moment not only for me, but for everybody here.”
Several officers showed up to the scene to help, including Sharp’s girlfriend. Bradenton Police said she was the one who transported him to the hospital. Now, they are praying for a speedy recovery.
