‘Very lucky’: Police Commissioner Col Blanch visits injured cop after allegedly dragged by car during arrest

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says he has personally visited an injured officer who was hospitalised after allegedly being dragged along the road by a teenage driver during a dramatic arrest. The terrifying ordeal unfolded about 10pm last Friday when police spotted a stolen Toyota Prado at the intersection of The Promenade and Main Street, in Ellenbrook. The car was allegedly stolen by a pair of 16-year-old boys from a Waterford home earlier in the night. Police pulled up beside the stolen Prado, before the 49-year-old officer opened the driver’s side door and told the 16-year-old driver to get out. But the young driver allegedly hit the accelerator, dragging the officer along the road until the car stopped and he fell to the ground. The officer sustained serious injuries and was rushed to St John of God Midland, before being transferred to Royal Perth Hospital where he remains in a stable condition. Speaking to media on Wednesday, Mr Blanch said the officer was still recovering from his injuries and confirmed he had suffered two broken ribs. “I’ve gone and visited him at hospital and also rang him shortly after the injury,” he said. “His recovery is going well, he’s in a lot of pain. “He’s fit of mind, and I think he’s just looking forward to getting better and coming back to work. “We know he’s got two broken ribs, but he may have other internal injuries as a result of the ribs broken (and) significant bruising as well.” Mr Blanch said the officer was “very, very lucky” and said making arrests out of running vehicles could be deadly. Constable Anthony Woods was tragically killed in 2023 after he was ran over and dragged by a stolen car, driven by a meth-fulled driver. And last September, Detective Senior Constable Greg McDougall suffered more than a dozen broken ribs, fractured ankle and broken arm after he was allegedly hit and briefly dragged under a 4WD during a drug operation. “We have seen tragedy with Anthony Woods in our community and Greg McDougall (who also suffered) serious injuries,” Mr Blanch said. “Trying to arrest people out of cars can be very, very dangerous behaviour.” The 16-year-old male driver, from Embleton, was charged with nine offences including assaulting a public officer, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and carrying or possessing an edged weapon. The 16-year-old male passenger, from Thornlie, was also charged with aggravated home burglary, stealing, stealing a motor vehicle and assaulting a public officer.