Man Sought in Officer’s Dragging

Los Angeles police searched Tuesday for a man they said grabbed an officer and dragged him 225 feet alongside a car that was fleeing a routine traffic stop.

Officer Matthew Bakotich, who has been with the Los Angeles Police Department for six years, suffered scrapes and bruises.

Police were thankful Bakotich wasn’t seriously injured while being dragged by the car’s passenger.

But they said it was bizarre that a suspect would latch onto a law officer while trying to get away.

“Officers call it ‘felony stupid’ when people do something that ridiculous. This would certainly fit that criteria,” Capt. William A. Murphy said.

After a short pursuit Monday night, police arrested William Green, 46, of Los Angeles on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. Green is believed to be the car’s driver.

Detectives withheld the identity of the second man, who was still being sought. “We have some good ideas about where to find him,” Murphy said.

Both men could face additional charges of kidnapping and drug possession for a small quantity of cocaine found in the car, authorities said.

About 9 p.m. Monday, Bakotich and his partner, who was not identified, got out of their cruiser to investigate a 1988 Mazda 323 that was blocking traffic while stopped at Figueroa and 64th streets in South Los Angeles.

While the other officer inspected the motorist’s license, Bakotich kept his eye on the passenger, a routine practice, Murphy said.

“He noticed the passenger was making a lot of movement and asked him to keep his hands in plain sight,” the captain said. When Bakotich approached the passenger door “to relay that message ... the passenger grabbed the officer’s left arm and the driver drove off.”

While being dragged at an unknown speed, Bakotich tried to draw and fire his revolver with his other hand. “It was a defense-of-life situation,” Murphy said.

After about three blocks, the passenger let go and Bakotich rolled free.

“He’s extremely lucky and we’re thankful he’s OK,” Murphy said.

Pursuing officers found the vehicle at 62nd and Flower streets and arrested Green in the backyard of a nearby home.

Murphy said that if the men had cooperated when first approached, they would have received a warning or minor traffic citation.

Instead, if convicted, they are “probably looking at doing serious time.”