A Bartow man is accused of intentionally dragging a Polk County deputy with his car.
Edward Lamar Hudson Jr., 34, was pulled over at 4:14 p.m. Monday on Hankin Road, just north of Wells Road in Bartow, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Deputies said the black 2000 Ford Mustang had an expired tag and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
When deputies spoke with Hudson, they said they detected the odor of cannabis coming from inside the vehicle. Deputy Joseph Ranze said he saw Hudson reaching into his pockets, and that Hudson initially ignored him when he told the suspect to keep his hands in plain view.
At one point during the investigation, Deputy Ranze removed a knife from Hudson's left front pocket, the report said. Deputy Ranze stayed at the open door and continued to talk to Hudson while his partner returned to his vehicle to complete the traffic citations.
Deputies said a Lake Wales K-9 officer arrived at the scene, and as he approached the vehicle, Deputy Ranze told Hudson to get out of the car. That's when deputies say Hudson refused, grabbed Ranze's right arm and stepped on the gas.
Ranze struggled to put the car in park and free himself while he was being dragged, and as Hudson accelerated on Hankins Road, Ranze was finally able to free himself, deputies said.
Hudson fled in his car to the 1700 block of King Road, where he got out of his car and ran from the scene. Deputies ultimately arrested him about a half-mile away from King Road in an open pasture.
Hudson was taken into custody and charged with attempted second-degree murder on a law enforcement and resisting arrest.
Ranze landed on his left hand, wrist and elbow, and sustained several abrasions. He was taken to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.