Police: Officers dragged 100 yards by car driven by man they'd just pulled over in Dorchester

A Dorchester man faces arraignment today on numerous charges after he allegedly gunned his car while two police officers were asking him to step out last night - dragging them 100 yards until he crashed into a parked car, Boston Police say.

Police say officers on patrol on Blue Hill Avenue around 7 p.m. on Sunday noticed Bryant Gilbert, 45, speeding and swerving from lane to lane in the area of Stratton Street:

When officers activated the emergency equipment (blue lights and sirens) on their unmarked cruiser, the vehicle slowed and appeared as if it would stop, but then continued on for a considerable distance at about 5 miles per hour. When the vehicle finally came to a stop, officers approached and observed that the vehicle was still in gear. The officers requested the operator to place the vehicle in park and remove the keys from the ignition, but the operator adamantly refused. Fearing the operator's reckless driving was a danger to other citizens in the area, officers attempted to secure the driver and the vehicle when the operator stepped on the gas, dragging both officers with the vehicle. The officers were dragged for about 100 yards before the vehicle crashed into a parked car. The operator and his passenger fled the vehicle, and the officers pursued on foot, quickly catching up to the operator. After a violent struggle, the operator was handcuffed and placed into custody.

Both officers were transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital for treatment; both have been released.

Gilbert is charged with, among other things, failure to submit to a police officer, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon on a police officer, negligent operation (second and prior offense), leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident, leaving the scene of a property-damage accident and resisting arrest.

Police added a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after booking officers allegedly found "a large sum of US currency and several small individual bags of a substance believed to be marijuana" on him during booking.

Innocent, etc.