Suspect Drags Police Officer with Vehicle, Crashes into House
FRESNO – A wanted man driving an SUV dragged a police officer 60 feet with the vehicle and then crashed into a house, breaking a gas line.
John Behnken
The incident began on Thursday when officers with the Fresno Police Department were checking on a suspicious vehicle just before 8 a.m. on Fremont Avenue just east of Chestnut Avenue, near Fresno State. They discovered a man, woman and 7-year-old child sleeping inside the vehicle.
During a check, they discovered the man, John Behnken, was being sought on an out-of-state warrant. Authorities say the warrant was for a felony and may have been for drug and theft charges.
The woman and child left the vehicle of their own free will, but Behnken stayed inside. When officers tried to take him into custody, Behnken got behind the wheel of the SUV.
The suspect took off in the vehicle with one of the officers still holding on to the steering wheel. The officer told Behnken repeatedly to stop the SUV.
“He drug the officer approximately 60 feet. The vehicle then crashed into the home,” said Lt. Don Gross with the Fresno Police Department.
After the crash, officers surrounded the suspect and were able to subdue him with a stun gun. Police then placed him under arrest.
The officer who was dragged by the SUV was treated at Saint Agnes Medical Center for cuts and scrapes and released.
The fire department and utility workers were called to the scene to shut off the broken gas line at the home.
Behnken will be facing charges of assault on a police officer.
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