Tucson Region

TPD bike officer dragged by car

A Tucson police bike officer suffered minor scrapes after being dragged about 40 yards by a car at Pueblo Gardens Park on Wednesday. Officer Linda Contreras was responding to a call in the 2500 block of East 36th Street about a fight in the park at 3:42 p.m. She and another officer rolled up to a vehicle with two people inside attempting to leave, said police Sgt. John DeConcini. When the passenger got out of the car, Contreras saw what appeared to be a firearm on the floor and reached into the car to retrieve it, DeConcini said. The driver, 19-year-old Jurel Roberson, then put the car in reverse and proceeded to drag Contreras, who was hanging on to the car, until she was able to free herself, he said. Roberson left the park and officers, including a K-9 unit, were called to search the area. The vehicle Roberson was driving was found a few blocks away on South McFee Avenue a few minutes later. A short time later, Roberson was found hiding in the same area. He was bitten by a police dog during the arrest, DeConcini said. The two bike officers identified Roberson as the person who drove away from them. He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and is facing weapons-related charges, DeConcini said. The weapon found inside the car Roberson was driving is believed to be a stun gun, he said. The name of the car's passenger was not released. He is being treated as a witness.