RAPID CITY, S.D.- A Rapid City Police Officer was dragged and his legs run over during a traffic stop on Sunday, January 2.
According to police, around 2:50 p.m., police pulled over an SUV around E. Boulevard and Omaha Street because it had an expired tag. They identified the driver as Amanda Hoftiernan, a 32-year-old female from Rapid City. Her passenger was 25-year-old John Challender, a male from Box Elder with six warrants.
Police discovered that the vehicle registration was forged during the stop, and asked the two to exit the vehicle. Hoftiernan refused, and had to be removed by the officer. During this process, Challender got into the drivers’ seat and tried to drive away.
In his efforts to prevent Challender from leaving, the officer was caught on the vehicle and then dragged by the car. When the vehicle struck a curb, the officer was detached, but the car ran over his legs. The vehicle then turned and accelerated towards the officer.
Law enforcement stopped the vehicle nearby, and Challender was placed under arrest for Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement, Obstruction, Impersonation to Deceive Law Enforcement, and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, in addition to his six outstanding warrants.
Hoftiernan was placed under arrest for Obstruction, Alteration of Registration Card, and No Proof of Insurance. Both were transported to the Pennington County Jail.
RCPD spokesman Brendyn Medina says the department is “Extremely thankful our officer escaped with only a few scratches during the incident.
