BROOKLYN, Ohio - The Brooklyn police department released dash camera and body camera footage from a Friday incident when an officer was dragged during a traffic stop.
Thomas L. LaForceBrooklyn policeThe video shows the Brooklyn police officer, whose name has not been publicly released, asking 34-year-old Thomas L. LaForce to step out of the car during a traffic stop about 2 p.m. Friday. The officer recognized LaForce as a suspect in two recent thefts from a local Sam's Club, Brooklyn police said in a statement Monday.
LaForce refused to get out and instead threw the minivan into drive, the video shows. The officer was dragged a short distance before he fell to the pavement.
The officer got into his vehicle and began pursuing LaForce's minivan. During the chase, a passenger bailed from the minivan before LaForce drove back onto Ridge Road, the video shows.
There was a short chase down Ridge Road before the officer bumped the minivan in an attempt to stop it.The minivan then struck another vehicle and flipped over, the video shows.
LaForce had to be dragged from the car through a manually broken windshield.
Two officers and LaForce were taken to MetroHealth by paramedics for treatment for minor injuries, Brooklyn police said. While police have not said how the second officer was injured, both have already returned to work.
LaForce is charged with felonious assault on a police officer and fleeing and eluding in Parma Municipal Court, records show. His arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
LaForce has not been charged in the Sam's Club thefts. He has prior convictions for theft and drug possession in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, records show.
You can see dash camera footage from the incident in the video above and body camera video in the video below.
Warning: the body camera video contains explicit language.
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