SUSPECT DRAGS MONTANA POLICE OFFICER

A Billings police officer was dragged several feet by a car early Saturday June 23 while trying to arrest a man who is suspected in several crimes in Billings and is wanted in Arizona for trying run over a police officer. Officer Kelly Compton was scraped on his arm and leg before pushing himself away from the car.

Compton was called to investigate a theft at Wal-Mart on King Avenue when he learned that the car involved was listed as stolen in Billings. Compton found the car, a 1999 silver Pontiac Grand Am, in the parking lot of a downtown motel. Compton radioed the dispatch center that he was in the parking lot. As he walked toward the parking lot, he saw a man leaving a room who matched the description of the person involved in the theft.

When the man, later identified as Santos Chavez, saw Compton, he started to run and got into the driver's side of the Pontiac. Compton and Chavez struggled as Chavez started the car. Police said Chavez drove with Compton being dragged along until the officer pushed himself away.