Nassau Man Dragged Cop With Car While Trying To Flee: Police

A Freeport man was arrested Saturday evening after police say he dragged an officer with his car and injured other drivers during a crash.

According to police, an officer saw a verbal fight between two drivers in Franklin Square at 5:37 p.m. The drivers were blocking Hempstead Turnpike. As the officer approached a 2005 Toyota Camry and asked the driver to step out of the car, police say the driver, Victor Natal, 40, of Wallace Street, attempted to flee the scene.

Police say he rapidly accelerated, catching the officer's jacket sleeve on his car and dragging him several feet. Police say Natal then struck three other cars on Hempstead Turnpike, causing one driver and one passenger injuries. After the crash, police say Natal fled on foot and was later found and placed under arrest in the backyard of a home on Monroe Street. Police say that Natal tried to resist arrest and injured an officer's knee and elbow.

The driver, passenger and officer were all taken to a hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Natal is charged with four counts of second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, leaving the scene of an auto accident, resisting arrest, reckless driving and several vehicle and traffic law violations. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Sunday.

Photo: Nassau County Police Department