Man accused of dragging, injuring Atwater officer with vehicle arrested, police say

Atwater Police Department officials say a tip from social media user led to the arrest of a suspect accused of dragging an officer with his vehicle.

The tip led Atwater and Merced police on Sunday to the 1900 block of Yosemite Parkway, where the suspect vehicle in the incident, a silver Toyota Camry with a bicycle rack, was found in a parking lot near a grocery store, according to a news release.

Upon completion of an investigation, officers arrested 40-year-old Brandon Lussier of Atwater on Sunday, according to police. Lussier was booked into the Merced Count Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Officer suffered minor injuries

According to police, officers were dispatched to the area of Third Street and Fir Avenue at about 1 p.m. Sunday, for a report of an unresponsive man inside a vehicle.

Officers found the man in the vehicle who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, police said.

As officers attempted to check his condition, he started the vehicle and attempted to flee. An officer on the passenger side of the vehicle was caught in the open door and dragged more than 90 feet before freeing himself, police said.

Police said the officer suffered minor injuries, was evaluated at a hospital and released.

The case remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Atwater Police Department at 209-357-6384.