WARNING: While the footage above is not necessarily graphic, some viewers may find the video upsetting.
The footage above and the information in the report below are courtesy WALA’s Rudy Harper and Gulf Breeze PD via CNN.
GULF BREEZE, Fla. – A police officer was dragged several yards by a vehicle being driven by a woman who was under the influence of narcotics, and dramatic dash camera footage shows bystanders rushing to the scene—including the police officer’s daughter, who didn’t appear to know it was her father she was running toward until she reached him.
Sgt. Kerstan Tatro of Gulf Breeze Police Department said he pulled a vehicle over that was going 65 MPH in a 35 MPH zone on Monday. He said when he reached the driver, he could tell she was under the influence of drugs.
"And so, I said ‘Well, come on, step out,' and I reached to grab the handle, and just that slight diversion,” Tatro said.
The woman drove away, and the officer was dragged and struck by the car. Several bystanders rushed to help the officer, and a short time later a teenage girl can be seen approaching only to later shout, “Daddy, are you OK?” The girl was in fact Tatro's daughter.
Police said the suspect may have escaped if it weren’t for the actions of concerned citizens.
"Actually two vehicles chased the offender down the road, and she hid a couple places,” Chief Robert Randle, Gulf Breeze Police, said.
Police arrested 30-year-old Amy Giorgio, and police said she was under the influence of several narcotics.
The officer suffered an injury to his arm, see the video above for an interview with the man. Tatro, who has a wife and five children, said he is glad he gets to go home to them.
"You go to work every night,and I tell them, they say 'be careful,' and, I say 'I promise I'll be careful.' I'll be home, and that's a promise I gotta keep," he said.
