A police officer in Chicago didn’t expect to be taken for a ride, but then he was hit and dragged behind a pickup truck. A routine traffic stop turned to chaos as his gun went off, sending a stray bullet through the West Side. 

Chicago police officer fires gun while being dragged behind truck 

A police officer was just in for a regular shift when a traffic stop turned into chaos on Saturday evening. Around 6:41 pm, an officer initiated a traffic stop after spotting a pickup truck driving erratically on Madison Street near Kilpatrick Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. 

As the officer approached the vehicle to investigate the situation, the driver tried to speed away. The suspect struck the officer with the truck and dragged him across the road. As the officer fell to the pavement, his gun discharged. 

Luckily, no one was struck by the stray bullet. However, the cop was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He’s currently in good condition. Other police officers continued to search for the suspect. 

According to CBS News, the pickup truck was spotted in the 4500 block of West Adams Street, a few blocks away. He was arrested and is in custody.

After the incident, officers blocked off the scene, disrupting traffic for hours. Evidence markers could be seen lining the streets. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the incident. 

The situation could have been much worse. Also, drivers often get in more trouble by evading police and adding more danger to situations. It’s unclear why the driver tried to run or if they were under the influence.