A North Carolina man faces multiple charges after he allegedly dragged a police officer with his motorcycle as the officer was attempting to stop him.
Officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department arrested Harold Wilson, 38, of 58 Tootsie Ave., Bakersville, N.C., on Sunday evening and charged him with aggravated assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.
On Sunday, CCSD Sgt. David Caldwell responded to the Roadrunner Market at the intersection of Highway 19E and Highway 321 in Hampton after a 911 caller reported a group of motorcyclists had been driving recklessly and passing vehicles at a high rate of speed.
When Caldwell arrived at the service station, he saw a group of motorcycle riders there at the store.
“I stepped out of my vehicle and one of the riders started his bike,” Caldwell said. “I immediately made eye contact with the rider and said ‘Cut it off.’”
The rider ignored the order to turn the motorcycle off and nearly struck Caldwell with his bike as he tried to maneuver around him, the officer said.
“I then grabbed his arm as he accelerated his bike in an attempt to evade,” Caldwell said. “He then dragged me alongside his motorcycle for around 10 yards through the parking lot.”
Caldwell was able to grab the motorcycle’s key and force the bike into a stall, he said.
When the officer attempted to place Wilson under arrest, the man began to struggle, Caldwell said.
“At this time, off-duty (CCSD) Sgt. Samantha Beckett, who was at the store in her personal vehicle, came over and attempted to help cuff the subject,” Caldwell said. “Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Edward Tester along with Deputies Justin Covington and Robbie Hughes assisted in apprehending the subject.”
Once Wilson was secured in handcuffs and placed in the back of a police cruiser, Caldwell said he spoke with several witness at the store. Some of the pedestrians provided statements to officers that they had feared Wilson was going to run over them while he was attempting to evade officers in the parking lot, Caldwell said.
Wilson appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Monday and was arraigned on the charges against him. Judge Keith Bowers set Wilson’s bond as a $2,500 corporate bond, which means he would have to post bail with a professional bonding agency. Bowers scheduled Wilson to return to court on Nov. 10 with his attorney. Following his court appearance, Wilson was released from the Carter County Detention Center after posting bond.