Dalton man found guilty of dragging cop with his vehicle

Friday, March 30, 2012

A Whitfield county jury has found a Dalton man guilty of dragging an officer with his vehicle last year.

Duandre Dorsey, 28, was convicted of the felony offense of serious injury by vehicle and multiple misdemeanors including driving under the influence, reckless driving and obstruction of law enforcement.

On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Cindy Morris sentenced Dorsey to serve 30 years in prison, according to a news release from the Conasauga Judicial District Attorney's office.

In 2011, Dalton Police Officer Steven Collins stopped Dorsey around 2 a.m. after he saw the man swerving on Chattanooga Road, the release states. Dorsey gave the officer a false name and produced a forged driver's license.

When the officer tried to arrest Dorsey for driving under the influence, Dorsey struck Collins and tried to leave in his vehicle, the release shows.

Collins then reached inside the car to try to disable it, but Dorsey managed to put the car in drive and dragged the officer nearly 50 feet, the release states.

Collins was thrown from the car, which broke his arm, dislocated his shoulder and caused several other minor injuries.

Dorsey fled, but he was arrested several hours later.

His trial lasted two days before a jury of nine men and three women delivered a guilty verdict on Thursday evening, the release states.