Alexandria Mall shoplifter arrested after dragging officer with vehicle
ALEXANDRIA, La. May 27 2017 On May 19, an APD officer was working a security detail at a business in the Alexandria Mall. At around 4:00 pm, the officer was informed that a man had taken a hat and left the store without paying.
The officer went outside and located the suspect getting into a Honda truck.
The officer made contact with the suspect and could see the stolen hat inside the truck. When the officer told the suspect to return the hat, the suspect made a comment that he had something in the truck that the police did not need to see.
The suspect then reached across the cab and behind the seat. The officer believed the suspect was attempting to retrieve a weapon and deployed his Taser, striking the suspect in the arm. The officer tried to reach the key in the ignition to turn off the truck, however, the suspect pulled the Taser probes out of his arm and began accelerating rapidly in reverse.
The officer was between the open door and the truck, was hit by the door and dragged several feet while the suspect continued in reverse. The officer was able to move away from the truck and avoid getting run over, and the suspect fled in his vehicle.
Detectives assigned to the case were able to identify the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On May 23, APD Street Team officers located the suspect, Wendell Reed, 56, of Alexandria, and placed him under arrest. Reed was charged with Theft of Goods Under $500 and Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer. He was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center.
