LAFAYETTE, La. — A police officer in Lafayette, Louisiana, is in critical but stable condition after being dragged about 100 feet behind a fleeing vehicle early Sunday morning.
Jaylin Chavis, 24, of Lake Charles, was arrested and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. He faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, reckless operation of a vehicle, resisting an officer with force/violence and operating while intoxicated, KFLY-TV reported.
Police also confirmed that several rounds were fired in attempts to stop Chavis’ vehicle, but no injuries related to the gunfire were reported, KATC reported.
According to a news release provided to KATC-TV, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driving recklessly at around 1:20 a.m. When the driver refused to yield, officers attempted to block the vehicle, but the driver – since identified as Chavis – tried to drive away in reverse and struck the officer who has not been identified publicly.