Woman accused of dragging police officer 30 feet, fleeing a crash is now in custody



BURLINTGON, Wash. -- The woman suspected of dragging a Burlington police officer and crashing her truck into a vehicle with two senior citizens inside, sending two people, in total, to the hospital, is now in custody.

Deputies with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office located the suspect Sunday afternoon in Sedro-Woolley.

On Saturday, officials said an officer pulled over the driver of a 1996 black Dodge pickup truck at about 12:15 p.m. on the 900 block of South Burlington Boulevard in Burlington. The officer discovered the driver, a 29-year-old woman whose name has not been released, had warrants out for her arrest.

Burlington Police Sergeant Mike Lumpkin said the suspect's charges were for misdemeanor theft.

When the officer attempted to arrest the suspect, police said she fled the scene dragging the officer for about 30 feet.

The 31-year-old officer was taken to the hospital. Lumpkin said he is recovering at home.

“This person definitely had a disregard for other folks that were out there and it put them at great risk too,” said Lumpkin.

Lumpkin said another responding officer tried to stop the suspect. The suspect drove through a red light at the intersection of Rio Vista Avenue and Burlington Boulevard and slammed into a car with a 78-year-old woman and a 69-year-old woman inside.

The 78-year-old victim in the car was also taken to the hospital but is expected to be OK.

“We’re lucky the injuries weren’t worse,” said Lumpkin.

The crash happened on a high traffic road in Burlington, during a busy part of the day.

“Completely smashed out; the window smashed, the bumper was half off,” said Fernando Estrada.

Estrada works at a restaurant near where the suspect crashed into the car full of senior citizens.

He said he heard the loud crash but had no idea the details behind the crash at the time of the incident.

“You just ruined three people’s lives right there: injuries, trauma, damage,” he said.