OFFICER DRAGGED BY CAR

A Peel Regional Police undercover officer was taken to hospital
Thursday night after he was dragged alongside a car during an
investigation.

Peel Const. Kathy Gagnon said the street crimes unit officer was
investigating a suspected drug deal just before supper last Thursday
when things went awry.

The officer and his partner had approached two men who were sitting in
a car in a Dundas St. parking lot after observing what they believed
to be a drug-related transaction. After identifying themselves as
police officers, one of the plainclothes detectives put his arm
through the passenger side window of the car. Police said the
passenger in the vehicle grabbed the officer's arm and held on as the
driver sped away.

As the officer was being dragged away, his partner leapt out of the
way of the speeding car. The officer, who was dragged more than 40
feet, was taken to the Trillium Health Centre and treated for deep
bruises.

Charged with two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,
dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, assault
with a weapon, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, and
several drug related offences is Jerome Jackson, 18, of Brampton.