Officer Seriously Injured Being Dragged By Stolen Vehicle: PD

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — A town of Poughkeepsie police officer was seriously injured Tuesday after he was dragged by a vehicle driven by someone who was trying to get away from him.

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department said a call was received from the Home Depot near Marist College about a shoplifter who had left the store.

Authorities said the store's loss prevention employee was able to give police a description of the person and followed him on foot to the area of North Road and West Cedar Street.

An officer in the area saw John Van Leuven Jr., 29, who has no known address, run into the parking lot of Campus Deli at 11 Marist Drive.

Van Leuven got into an unattended vehicle which was running with keys inside it, police said.

The officer ran up to the vehicle and tried to get Van Leuven out of it in order to keep him from stealing it.

Van Leuven resisted the officer's efforts and stepped on the accelerator.

The officer was dragged along until the vehicle Van Leuven was driving struck the center median on North Road, police said.

Van Leuven's vehicle went partially airborne and hit another vehicle that was traveling on North Road. The two vehicles came to rest on the grassy area on the east side of North Road, police said.

Both Van Leuven and the officer were ejected from the vehicle and were pinned underneath it.

They sustained serious injuries and were taken by ambulance to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.

Police said Van Leuven has been arrested and released on appearance tickets nine times since July. As of Tuesday, he had an active arrest warrant for third-degree burglary and bench warrants for petit larceny and third-degree robbery.

Authorities said he will be charged with:

• First-degree assault, a felony
• Assault on a peace officer, a felony
• First-degree reckless endangerment, a felony
• Third-degree grand larceny, a felony
• Third-degree criminal mischief, a felony
• Two counts of petit larceny, a misdemeanor
• Resisting arrest, a misdemeanor

Police said the events of Tuesday are still under investigation and ask any witnesses to call 845-485-3666.