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Stopped driver accused of dragging officer by hair

The Columbian
Published: July 30, 2015, 5:00pm

YAKIMA — What started out as a minor traffic stop Monday night ended with a Mabton police officer being dragged a short distance by his hair as the suspect tried to drive away.

“It’s a reminder for officers to always be ready for anything,” acting Chief Cas Cedillo said in a phone interview Wednesday.

The driver, Margaret Strong, 28, of Mabton, made a preliminary appearance in Yakima County Superior Court on Wednesday morning. Her bail was set at $10,000.

The incident began about 11:45 p.m. Monday, when police say Strong drove her 2008 Chevrolet Uplander through the intersection of Main Street and State Route 22 without stopping, according to an affidavit filed by police. An officer stopped the van near the intersection of state routes 22 and 241, and Strong refused to hand over her license and car registration, the affidavit said.

When other officers arrived as backup, Strong drove off, the affidavit said, going 40 mph in a 60 mph zone. During the quarter-mile chase, the van braked hard three times and swerved, nearly hitting one police car, the affidavit said.

When the van stopped on SR 22, one police car pulled in front and officers ordered Strong to get out, the affidavit said. She refused, prompting Officer Alex Campbell to smash the driver’s side window with his nightstick.

As Campbell reached inside to unlock the door, the affidavit said Strong grabbed Campbell by his hair and started to drive off, the affidavit said. Her van struck the patrol car and she stopped.

The other officer’s decision to park in front of the van saved Campbell from serious injury — or worse — Cedillo said.

“You realize this could have gone south really quick,” Cedillo said.

Campbell lost some hair and is sore, Cedillo said, but he is recovering. The other officer’s car had minor damage, he said.

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I have never submitted an officer’s hair as evidence,” Cedillo said.

Strong let go of Campbell after he punched her in the face several times and another officer struck her wrist with a flashlight, the affidavit said. But it took a shot of pepper spray to the face to get her out of the van, the affidavit said, then officers had to pin her to the ground to handcuff her. Officers from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol assisted, the affidavit said.

Officers said Strong had an odor of alcohol and there were alcoholic beverages in the car, the affidavit said.

Strong was booked into the Yakima County jail on suspicion of eluding police, malicious mischief, misdemeanor DUI and third-degree assault.

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