It happened around eight o'clock Thursday morning at a home in Fresno near Fremont and Chestnut. Police say the man driving the SUV had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. When they tried to apprehend him, he took off dragging the police officer along the way.
"Just saw the car go like out and then just straight into the house."
Rebekah Wilson lives directly across the street from where the accident took place. She says she watched the whole thing from her blinds.
"And then we saw tons of squad cars coming, cops. Had no idea what was going on," said Wilson.
Police got a call about a suspicious SUV in the neighborhood on Fremont and Chestnut. When they arrived they found this man from Iowa, John Behnken, a woman and a 7-yr-old child sleeping inside the SUV. During a check they noticed there was an outstanding warrant for Behnken.
(LT. DON GROSS / FRESNO PD)
The warrant was a felony. It appears to be some type of parole or probation warrant...it appears to be drugs and theft charges.
Police say when they tried to arrest Behnken, they began fighting and Behnken
jumped into the drivers seat and took off.
"One of the officers was holding onto the steering wheel, again, fighting with the suspect, telling him to stop multiple, multiple times," said Lieutenant Don Gross with the Fresno Police Department.
Police say the officer was dragged around 60 feet. That's when Behnken crashed into the garage of this home.
"And then the cops, they all surrounded him and they tased him a few times and got him under control," said Wilson.
Behnken was carried away on a stretcher in an ambulance. Police say only the suspect and officer were hurt with a few scrapes and bruises. Neighbors say it's an uncommon sight for the area.
"We've been here 35 years. We built the house and stuff like this just does not happen around here," said Joan Krahn, a neighbor.
"It's just unusual for this part of Fresno...unexpected," said Wilson.
The woman found inside of the SUV with Behnken was cited and then released.
"Just saw the car go like out and then just straight into the house."
Rebekah Wilson lives directly across the street from where the accident took place. She says she watched the whole thing from her blinds.
"And then we saw tons of squad cars coming, cops. Had no idea what was going on," said Wilson.
Police got a call about a suspicious SUV in the neighborhood on Fremont and Chestnut. When they arrived they found this man from Iowa, John Behnken, a woman and a 7-yr-old child sleeping inside the SUV. During a check they noticed there was an outstanding warrant for Behnken.
(LT. DON GROSS / FRESNO PD)
The warrant was a felony. It appears to be some type of parole or probation warrant...it appears to be drugs and theft charges.
Police say when they tried to arrest Behnken, they began fighting and Behnken
jumped into the drivers seat and took off.
"One of the officers was holding onto the steering wheel, again, fighting with the suspect, telling him to stop multiple, multiple times," said Lieutenant Don Gross with the Fresno Police Department.
Police say the officer was dragged around 60 feet. That's when Behnken crashed into the garage of this home.
"And then the cops, they all surrounded him and they tased him a few times and got him under control," said Wilson.
Behnken was carried away on a stretcher in an ambulance. Police say only the suspect and officer were hurt with a few scrapes and bruises. Neighbors say it's an uncommon sight for the area.
"We've been here 35 years. We built the house and stuff like this just does not happen around here," said Joan Krahn, a neighbor.
"It's just unusual for this part of Fresno...unexpected," said Wilson.
The woman found inside of the SUV with Behnken was cited and then released.