Sleepy driver dragged officer along pavement, police say

An officer was dragged 30 feet along the pavement after a man accelerated while authorities were trying to remove him from his car early Friday in North Spokane, Spokane Police reported.

Police saw a running car stopped in the southbound lanes of Crestline Street near North Foothills Drive about 3:15 a.m., said police spokesman Dick Cottam.

The driver of the car, Michael J. Gibson, 25, appeared to be asleep at the wheel, Cottam said. Officers tried to wake him, opened the driver’s door and ordered him to turn off the car.

When he didn’t respond, officers attempted to pull Gibson from the vehicle, Cottam said. But he suddenly awoke and accelerated the car with one officer partially inside. The officer dropped onto the pavement after being dragged about 30 feet.

The officer, whose name was not released, was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

Police again found Gibson sleeping inside his car in a parking lot at 3001 E. Upriver Drive, Cottam said. A patrol car was parked behind the locked car and officers smashed a side window to gain entry.

Gibson was taken from the vehicle and placed on the ground. Cottam said he concealed one of his hands and refused directions to show it to police, so they jolted him with a Taser electric stun gun two times before he complied.

Gibson was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released, Cottam said.

Cottam said Gibson was booked into jail on one count of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon – his car. Gibson posted bond and left custody on Friday.