Officer Dragged by Pickup Truck in Stratford

Friday, 27 January 2023 06:28

By Marcie Culbert

A Stratford Police officer had to be taken to hospital with several injuries after they were dragged by a stolen pickup truck at the Canadian Tire Gas Bar.

STRATFORD - The Stratford Police Service has released a shocking video of one of its officers being dragged by a pickup truck.

Police say the officer spotted a stolen pickup truck at the Canadian Tire Gas Bar at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. A 30-year-old woman was behind the wheel, while a 27-year-old man who is known to police exited the Gas Bar, allegedly pushed the officer to the ground, and hopped into the passenger seat.

Police say the officer tried to pull the man out of the truck to arrest him, but the woman drove off and dragged the officer alongside the vehicle for a short distance. The officer was taken to hospital with several injuries and has since been released.

Stratford Police were able to locate the suspects at around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, thanks to help from the Woodstock Police Service.

Officers found the stolen truck stopped for a train in Dublin. Officers tried to box the truck in, but the truck sped toward an officer on foot. That officer was able to jump out of the way, but the truck still hit two police cruisers before it drove off the road.

Police tried to box the truck in a second time, but it drove into another cruiser and police say the man tried to run away on foot. Officers were able to arrest him after a struggle, while the woman stayed in the truck and was arrested without incident.

Police say Joseph Cluett of Mitchell and Kayla Field of Goderich have both been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and possession of stolen property under $5,000.

In addition to these charges, Field is facing one count of dangerous driving and Cluett has been charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, assault with a weapon, resisting arrest, and breach of probation.

Before all of this took place, police say Cluett was under probation after already being convicted of flight from police, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, two counts of operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, and four counts of failing to comply with a release order.