ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A St. John police officer was briefly dragged by a car during a traffic stop Thursday and two St. Louis County officers were hurt in a crash while chasing the suspect's car hours later, authorities said.
The St. John officer, Sgt. Nicholas Tobias, suffered serious injuries but his department said he is expected to recover fully. After being dragged, he fell onto the street and rolled several times, then got up and walked away.
The St. Louis County officers involved in the traffic crash were treated and released from a hospital.
Wendell Mosley, 30, of St. Louis, was charged Friday with first-degree assault on a special victim and resisting arrest creating substantial risk of injury/death in the St. John officer's dragging.
The traffic stop happened about 6 p.m. Thursday near Marshall Avenue and St. Charles Rock Road, when an officer tried to pull Mosley over for running a stop sign and having an expired temporary tag. While Tobias was at the driver's side window, Mosley drove off, dragging Tobias with him.
Mosley's criminal history includes stealing a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon and leaving the scene of an accident. He is on probation for another case, prosecutors said.
Mosley was not in custody Friday evening. He will be held without bond upon his arrest.
David Ashabranner watched video of the traffic stop from surveillance cameras at his home.
"The car started to take off and the cop got ahold of the car," Ashabranner said. "He was (dragged) a couple houses (away). It took only five or six seconds. Then he tumbled a good 30 or 40 feet."
Ashabranner added, "When he got up and walked away, it was amazing."
St. John police posted a message Friday on Facebook saying the officer "will have some recovery time ahead of him, but we are confident that his strong will and nature will ensure his recovery."
Hours after the officer was hurt, two St. Louis County police cars collided in north St. Louis while chasing the suspect's car.
St. Louis County police Officer Tracy Panus said the officers from the North County precinct joined the pursuit about 11 p.m. Thursday near eastbound Interstate 270 and Bellefontaine Road.
When they got to Oriole Avenue, a dead-end road off Switzer Avenue, the police cars collided. The officers lost sight of the car and ended the pursuit, she said. County police Sgt. Benjamin Granda said the officers were evaluated at a hospital and released.
