By Irene Rotondo
masslive.com
BROCKTON, Mass. — A 31-year-old man believed to have dragged a trooper while fleeing a traffic stop on Wednesday has been located and arrested by Massachusetts State Police.
Derek Lobo, of Brockton, was wanted on charges of assault, motor vehicle violations and fentanyl trafficking, after police said he pulled over for two troopers, then took off while dragging one of the troopers with his car. Lobo was booked at the State Police Middleborough Barracks on Thursday, the department said.
At 6 p.m. on Sept. 13, troopers pulled over Lobo, who was driving his Mercedes on Montpellier Street in Brockton for motor vehicle violations, the department said.
Dash cam video from the traffic stop shows Lobo’s driver’s side door is open, with two troopers standing close to the open door and speaking with Lobo.
One trooper, who was leaning on the top of the car with one hand, bent in closer and reached inside the car with his other hand, the video showed. Suddenly, there appears to be a struggle coming from inside the car between Lobo and the trooper, and the trooper lurches forward further into the car.
The other trooper standing outside the Mercedes reached with both hands in an apparent grapple to assist to his partner, but Lobo began to drive the Mercedes away with the first trooper still inside.
The trooper was dragged several yards down the pavement, curling his legs up into his body while hanging to the accelerating car until coming to a bumping halt as he dropped, skidding onto the street.
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The trooper immediately got up and ran back to the cruiser to chase Lobo, the video showed. He had minor injuries from the incident, police said.
Police began looking for Lobo following the traffic stop, asking for the public’s assistance in locating him, and arrested him at a home in Brockton on Thursday following the investigation by the department’s community action team and its violent fugitive apprehension section.
The trooper who placed Lobo in custody was the same officer who’d been dragged, police said.
According to state police, Lobo was charged with the following:
- Assault and battery on a police officer;
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon;
- Trafficking in fentanyl, more than 10 grams;
- Negligent operation of a motor vehicle;
- Failure to stop for police;
- Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle;
- Number plate violation;
- No inspection sticker;
- Speeding;
- Window tint violation;
- Not in possession of license.
Bail was set at $5,000, state police said. Lobo is scheduled to be arraigned Friday at Brockton District Court.
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