News

Officer shifts man’s car into park while being dragged

SALEM, N.H. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A police officer in Salem, N.H. stopped a suspect's car by shifting it into park as he was being dragged early Monday morning.

Police said Officer Michael Massahos saw the car driving south on Route 28 with no headlights on just before 1 a.m. Monday.

When Massahos stopped the car he said he discovered the driver, identified as 20-year-old Jordan Depina, 20, of Lawrence, Mass., had a quantity of marijuana and several purses in view.

Massahos said that when he tried to arrest Depina, Depina took ran around a Pep Boys auto shop, got back into his car and attempted to drive away. As Depina was driving away, Massahos said he got stuck in the car and had to shift it into park to get Depina to stop. He then used a stun gun on Depina and was able to get him out of the car.

Massahos was treated for minor injuries and for exposure to hazardous materials.

Depina was also treated and released from Parkland Medical Center. He was charged with second degree assault, possession of a controlled drug, reckless conduct, simple assault, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He was held in lieu of $15,000 bail.

Police said they were searching for two other men who were in the vehicle when it was stopped.