An eventful police pursuit ended with the low-key arrest of a Pennsylvania drug crimes suspect in a nearby condominium. Because of that police chase, the defendant will now face additional charges of first- and second-degree assault, resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding, and reckless driving, on top of his drug charges.

The incident began early Saturday morning, when the 30-year-old Pennsylvania man allegedly attempted to sell marijuana and ecstasy to an undercover detective in Ocean City, Maryland. Uniformed and plain-clothes officers swarmed the defendant in order to arrest him for drug crimes, but the defendant fled, running from the police on foot.

After his description was broadcast to local police, the defendant was approached by two police officers on bicycle as he was attempting to ender his vehicle. Police forcibly attempted to remove him from the car, but he instead put the car in reverse with officers on both the driver and passenger sides. The officer on the driver's side was reportedly dragged by the vehicle for some time before he fell out of the car.

A vehicle pursuit then occurred as the defendant drove down Coastal Highway, where he eventually bailed out of his car. Police later determined that he had jumped in a canal.

About three hours later, police tracked the defendant to a nearby condominium. He was arrested and charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding, reckless and negligent driving, and first- and second-degree assault, as well as two counts of distribution of marijuana and ecstasy.

The police officer who was dragged by the defendant's vehicle was treated for hand and arm injuries at a nearby hospital. He will make a full recovery.

Source: The Dispatch, "Alleged Dealer Drags Cop, Uses Canal To Escape," Shawn J. Soper, 22 July 2011