Dash Cam Video Shows Deputy Being Dragged By Car During Traffic Stop

Dash camera video shows the moment a Rogers County deputy was dragged by a car while working a traffic stop.

This happened Thursday afternoon off the turnpike near Vinita while Sgt. Ron Walker was working on an Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics task force.

The affidavit says deputies pulled Pernell Martin over for not using his turn signal, and he ended up driving his car away with the deputy hanging out of it. 

“I got the car in park, he put it back in drive, we did this two or three times before I was able to get it in park, turn off the car, and throw his keys out the window,” says Sgt. Ron Walker. 

Walker says half of his body was hanging out of the car while he was steering with one hand. 

Deputies say Martin had 59 packages of marijuana in the car and a loaded 9-millimeter handgun.

Walker says it was important to make sure the car stopped.

“I didn't want him to flee in his vehicle, he was clearly desperate, and if it's a rolling pursuit, then it puts the innocent motoring public in danger, and that wasn't going to end in any other way than a crash,” he said.

Sheriff Scott Walton says he's proud of his deputies for how they handled the situation, and it shows how fast things can get dangerous for law enforcement.

“I've never seen a better example of a microsecond where a situation can go from pretty well under control and mild to out of control and wild,” he said.

Martin is in the Craig County Jail facing several charges, including assault and battery on a police officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Walker says he walked away with just a scratch, and he needed to prevent a chase from happening to keep people safe.

“Nobody likes them, but they have to occur, so when you have an opportunity to prevent one, it's always best, I believe, to try and stop it. It keeps the public out of danger,” he said.