A Massachusetts state trooper was dragged by a car for around 100 feet during a traffic stop early Tuesday morning in Fall River, but returned to his shift after being released from the hospital, authorities said.
According to a news release from Massachusetts State Police, the trooper stopped a car for a motor vehicle violation at around 12:30 a.m., near the corner of Pleasant Street and 17th Street.
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During that stop, the driver, a 27-year-old woman, told police she did not have her license on her and that the car, a Honda Accord, belonged to someone else. The trooper decided to have the car towed and told the woman and her passenger to call for a ride.
Police said a second car arrived to pick them up, but by this time the trooper had discovered the passenger had warrants out for his arrest. The trooper tried to arrest the passenger, identified as 22-year-old Steven Melendez, but he ran to the second car. The second driver, who was later identified as Melendez's mother, took off, dragging the trooper along with the car.
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The trooper went to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford to be treated, and was discharged around 4 a.m. He went back to his shift.
Melendez was later stopped on 95 in Rhode Island and arrested on charges of assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, as well as three prior warrants, one of which involved charges in a shooting.
His mother, identified as Maria Melendez Rivera, 41, was stopped on 195 in Westport and arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, malicious destruction of property and speeding.
The original driver, who police say is Melendez's girlfriend, was also arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact and interfering with a police officer.
