Man Shot by Police Dragged Officer, Had BAC Nearly 3 Times Legal Limit: DA

The man who was shot by a Suffolk Police officer over the weekend had briefly dragged the officer with his car and had a blood alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael Shear, 34, pleaded not guilty to DWI, first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, second degree reckless endangerment and fleeing an officer during an arraignment at Stony Brook University Hospital Tuesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Shear, of Holtsville, is in stable condition recovering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

Shear was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving near Waverly Avenue in Patchogue early Sunday morning, according to police. During the traffic stop, Shear fled the scene, briefly dragging the Highway Patrol officer with his vehicle, police said.

A police chase ended about three miles away in Medford when police units were able to surround Shear as he drove on Ocean Avenue, just south of Long Island Avenue, police said.

Shear was shot once by the officer after the chase when he refused to comply with the officer’s commands and resisted arrest, police said.

Shear refused a blood alcohol test, but Suffolk County crime lab testing of his blood acquired via a warrant showed Shear had blood alcohol content of .22; nearly three times the legal limit, the DA said.

Shear is being held on $75,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond.

Police have not named the officer who shot Shear, but said "there is a full and thorough investigation underway."

The photo of Shear below is from his Facebook page.