NEW CANAAN – A police officer was treated for injuries and released Sunday after being dragged during a traffic stop.
Police said they received a call that a man threatening to commit suicide was driving on Old Stamford Road with his headlights off shortly after 6 p.m. Erik Kuranko, 24, of New Canaan was stopped by police near the intersection of Weed Street.
Police said when they approached the car, they were unable to see his hands and he would not roll the window down or unlock the door. An officer broke the window and tried to take off Kuranko’s seat belt, when he started to drive off. Kuranko was pulled from the car but the officer’s arm was caught in the seat belt. The officer was dragged 35 feet before the vehicle hit a snowbank and stopped, according to police.
The officer was taken to Norwalk Hospital where he was treated and released for injuries to the knees, neck and back. The driver was taken into custody and also taken to Norwalk Hospital where he was evaluated. Police found a knife in the center console.
Kuranko was charged with assault on a police officer, interfering with a police officer, weapon in a motor vehicle and reckless driving. He is being held on a $15,000 bond.
