A driver accused of using his sport utility vehicle as a weapon to drag a Los Angeles Police Department officer last week on a San Fernando Valley street pleaded not guilty Tuesday with assaulting a police officer, according to prosecutors.
Grant Anthony Muldrow, 22, was charged Tuesday morning. It was not immediately clear whether the Porter Ranch resident, who also faces a charge of transportation for sale of a controlled substance, obtained an attorney.
Streets were closed and nearby schools were locked down as police responded Thursday to a report of "officer needs help" in the 10900 block of Haskell Avenue in Granada Hills. The officer, who was attempting to make an arrest, "kept his hand on the steering wheel" of the SUV and was dragged at speeds up to 45 mph, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.
The SUV then struck a tree and ended up on a sidewalk in the residential neighborhood. The driver ran from the scene, setting off a manhunt that continued into Thursday afternoon.
The officer's injuries were not life-threatening and he remains in good condition.
