SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (WHDH) - A State Police trooper was dragged after attempting to conduct a traffic stop in Springfield Monday night.
The State Police trooper stopped a 2006 Mazda 6 after he saw the driver commit violations on I-91 northbound and I-291 eastbound.
When Trooper Theodore Tudryn approached the car, Springfield Police Officer Dan Cintron stopped to offer assistance.
Tudryn talked to the driver, later identified as Justin Morgan, 24 of Newport, Vermont, and asked for his driver’s license.
While talking to the people in the car, Tudryn saw a small bag of crack cocaine.
According to police, Tudryn opened the driver’s side door and ordered Morgan out of the car as he placed handcuffs on him.
Morgan refused to comply, pulled away, put the car in drive and began to drive forward, dragging Tudryn.
Tudryn was forced to pull himself inside car to fight for control. After the car traveled 300 feet, the officers were able to gain control of the car.
The passengers were identified as Joseph Peets, 30 of Morrisville, Vermont and Robert Fitzgerald, 26 of Eden, Vermont.
All three men were found to be in possession of approximately 800 bags of heroin.
Morgan was charged with heroin trafficking, conspiracy to violate drug law, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and number plate violation.
He was held on $50,000 bail.
Fitzgerald and Peets were charged with heroin trafficking, and conspiracy to violate drug law.
They were each held on $25,000 bail.
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