Video has surfaced showing a trooper with the New York State Police being dragged by a vehicle as he was attempting to conduct a traffic stop in 2017.
According to ABC News, police say State Trooper Jean Dhaiti had pulled over a vehicle and during the ensuing interaction a struggle took place; the officer was then dragged some distance until the vehicle crashed into a median. A passenger in a passing vehicle recorded the incident on mobile phone video.
The video shows two other motorists coming to the trooper's aid.
Trooper Dhaiti was treated at a local hospital for head injuries. The now ex-trooper and U.S. Army veteran said in April 2019 he still was recovering, but also looking forward to moving on with his life after suffering brain trauma that left him unable to return to his 19-year career in law enforcement, reports Newsday.
The suspect, Kyheem Kelly, subsequently faced charges of aggravated assault upon a police officer, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration. Dhaiti testified that the encounter escalated after he pulled Kelly over for suspected cellphone use.
The case was closed in 2019 with a four-year prison sentence for Kelly.