Police officer assaulted during traffic stop on Alberta Highway 22

CALGARY – A routine traffic stop in the Cochrane area turned into an officer being assaulted and sent to hospital early Saturday morning.

RCMP stopped a suspicious vehicle on Quigley Drive and Highway 22 at around 2:20 a.m. Saturday. Cochrane RCMP said Monday the truck was pulled over because its plates didn’t match the vehicle, and turned out to be stolen plates out of Calgary.

The sheriff who stopped the pickup truck then called out other members of the Cochrane integrated traffic unit to help him.

An RCMP officer was assisting in the traffic stop when the truck drove forward and allegedly dragged the Mountie about nine metres (30 feet) down the road.

Police said the driver appeared to be swerving, which Cochrane RCMP Sgt. Dave Hardy suggested may have “been in an attempt to get the officer to release his grip when he fell to the ground.”

Hardy said he was taken to hospital with “road rash” and treated for minor injuries. The sheriff was not injured.

“It’s very concerning and the officer is very fortunate, as this could have been fatal,” Hardy said Monday.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's very concerning and the officer is very fortunate, as this could have been fatal," Hardy said Monday.

Police said the suspect, a man driving a white GMC Sierra pickup truck with a woman in the passenger seat, left the scene and drove into Calgary, where police were unable to locate them.

No other information about the suspect(s) has been released.

Anyone with information about this incident or who may have seen the vehicle, are asked to call RCMP or Crime Stoppers.