A New Canaan officer was taken to the hospital Thursday night after he was dragged 35 feet while trying to help a driver who was reported to be suicidal, according to police.
Police said the officer responded to Old Stamford Road in New Canaan around 6:10 p.m., where a man was driving with his headlights off and threatening suicide.
Authorities stopped the car and approached to talk to the driver, who was later identified as 24-year-old Erik Kuranko. Police said Kuranko would not roll down the window or open the door.
One officer broke the window. As he was reaching inside the car to take off Kuranko's seat belt, the driver hit the gas, launching the car forward, police said. The officer's arm became tangled in the seat belt and he was dragged 35 feet until the car hit a snow bank and stopped.
The officer was taken to Norwalk Hospital for treatment of injuries to his knees, neck and back, police said. He was treated and released from the hospital Thursday night.
Kuranko was also taken to Norwalk Hospital with minor injuries. He was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer, interfering with police, carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle and reckless driving.
Kuranko is being held on $15,000 bond.
