A routine traffic stop in Bradenton turned perilous for Officer Shane Sharp who was dragged by a suspect's car Tuesday night. FOX 13 News reported that the incident occurred in the 1200 block of Martin Luther King Avenue East, where Sharp encountered 19-year-old Lenny Macias-Rangel. According to the body camera footage obtained by WFLA, Sharp can be heard requesting Macias-Rangel to turn off his vehicle twelve times due to concerns that the suspect might flee. "Turn the car off for me. I don’t know if you’re going to take off, it took you a while to stop. Turn the car off," Sharp told the driver.
Despite repeated orders, Macias-Rangel did not comply, leading Sharp to attempt to shift the vehicle into park manually. In a harrowing turn, as reported by FOX 13 News, the car suddenly accelerated, trapping Sharp between the driver and dashboard, and after covering approximately 150 feet, it crashed into a nearby pole. The aftermath of the event was similarly violent, with ABC Action News citing that several officers responded and Macias-Rangel resisted arrest, striking them in the process.
The Bradenton Police Department has since levied multiple charges against Macias-Rangel, including two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and possession with intent to sell, among other charges. Subsequent to the arrest, a search of the suspect's vehicle revealed a kilogram of marijuana and 62 THC vape cartridges. Although Sharp was released from the hospital on Wednesday morning, he did not walk away unscathed. WFLA notes that the officer sustained a concussion, dislocated shoulder, and minor leg injuries during the incident.
The Bradenton Police Department commended the swift response of the officers who assisted at the scene, underlining the collaborative effort it often takes to maintain public safety. Macias-Rangel is currently being held at the Manatee County Jail, while the community and his fellow officers support Sharp in his recovery, according to WFLA.
