BALTIMORE — A Baltimore City police sergeant is fighting to survive.
Police said an officer was attempting a traffic stop around 8 p.m. Tuesday in the 5200 block of Park Heights Avenue, got engaged with the car and was dragged two blocks.
The sergeant, whose name was not released, was taken to Shock Trauma where the officer is on life support.
"He is critically ill and on full life support," Dr. Thomas Scalea said. "Our diagnostic studies are ongoing. He will be headed to intensive care unit in the not-so-distant future."
Police said the officer was doing what he should have been doing when he stopped the car.
Commissioner Michael Harrison said that once the officer got to the stopped car, the driver hit the gas and continue to drag the sergeant before ramming into another car.
"The officer was doing exactly what we want, being out there proactive, making sure citizens are being protected, finding people who are doing harm and making sure the Northwest district is a safe place," Harrison said. "Tonight, we pray and we ask you for your prayers for one of our sergeants who is recovering, but here at Shock Trauma."
The driver took off, and has not been arrested.
Police said they are following leads from witnesses.
"We are in pursuit of leads for a suspect, and those leads are good leads. Detectives are pursuing those leads as we speak," Harrison said. "I would ask that everyone join us in their thoughts and prayers for our sergeant who is in Shock Trauma."
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the sergeant on duty was at that location on Park Heights Avenue for good reason.
"I hear a lot about what our police officers in Baltimore aren't doing and what they won't do," Mayor Scott. "What we have tonight is a sergeant who is on life support because he was doing exactly what he should have been doing. If you have ever been to the 5200 block of Park Heights, you have seen the violence there and you know exactly why he was there."
No other information was provided.
Mayor Scott asks everyone in Baltimore to keep the officer in their thoughts and prayers.
"We need everyone in Baltimore to pray for this sergeant's recovery, for his family and for the members of our department and our city," Mayor Scott said. "Put your thoughts and prayers behind this officer. We continue to have people who have no regard for anyone's life. We will find this person and bring this to justice."
