Officer uses Taser on driver while being dragged alongside car

A Surprise police officer pulled out his Taser this morning and used it on a man who grabbed the officer’s arm and was dragging him alongside his car for approximately 40 yards, police said.

The incident began about 12:25 a.m. when officer Rudy Guinea observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the area of Verde Street and Santa Fe Drive. Guinea stopped to check the late model Honda, which still had its engine running, and observed a man sitting slumped over the steering wheel, according to police.

After getting no response from the subject, the officer touched him on the shoulder to check his welfare, police said. As he did so, the subject suddenly and violently grabbed the officer’s arm, put the vehicle in drive and attempted to drive away with the officer, police said.

Guinea was able to wrestle the vehicle’s transmission into park, but the subject immediately put the car back in drive and started driving away, still holding the officer’s arm. With his free hand, Guinea was able to reach his Taser and use it on the driver.

The officer was then able to place the vehicle in park and took the subject into custody. Guinea was not injured.

A records check revealed the suspect as Carlos Mendez, 31, of Surprise, police said. Mendez was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and DUI. Mendez was booked into the Maricopa County Jail.