Man Accused Of Hitting, Dragging Officer In Wellesley Arrested

WELLESLEY, MA — The man accused of hitting a Wellesley Police officer and then dragging him down Worcester Street with a stolen car, during a traffic stop, has been arrested, police announced early Sunday.

The Massachusetts State Police stopped Theodore William Newton, 37, of Delaware around 12:50 a.m., on Route 84 in Sturbridge, according to a police spokeswoman. He was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, failure to stop for a police officer while operating a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury, malicious destruction of property over $250, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Earlier Saturday night, a Wellesley officer pulled over a Nissan Altima with Texas tags, during a routine traffic stop on Worcester Street near Route 128. Police said when the officer ran the information through the system, it came back that the car was stolen in Delaware.

When an officer tried to arrest the man, the driver drove away, hitting the officer and dragging him 15 feet before the officer could break himself free.First responders took the officer to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston with serious, but non life-threatening injuries, police said.

Wellesley Police put a warrant out for Newton's arrest. A few hours later, detectives learned Newton was in Boston and said he was pulled over as a passenger in a 2019 Kia Optima earlier that evening. That Kia Optima was later pulled over in Sturbridge. Newton was a passenger, but police said they were given a fake name, Brendan Newton. When state troopers went back to their cruiser to speak with someone at the communications center, they were told the car was connected to the Wellesley incident and learned of the warrant for Newton's arrest. Newton was arrested and is being held without bail at Dedham District Court.

Related:Delaware Man Strikes Wellesley Officer With Stolen Car

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