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St. Pete Officer Dragged By Car, Shoots 2 Suspects

News Channel 8 photo by KATY HENNIG

Police found the vehicle soon after at an apartment complex at 430 13th Ave. S.

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TBO.com

Published: March 11, 2009

Gregory Brinson

Adam Burns

ST. PETERSBURG - A St. Petersburg police officer is recovering after he chased a suspect on foot then was dragged at least 150 feet by the apparent getaway car.

Robert Lord, 30, a five-year veteran of the department, has been released from a local hospital, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said in a statement.

Lord shot two suspects in the feet during the incident; they were being treated at a local hospital.

Lord was responding to a battery call about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday when he spotted the suspect, Gregory Brinson, in the 700 block of 15th Avenue South. When Lord stopped his marked patrol car, Brinson ran into a back yard and Lord gave chase, Proffitt said.

According to investigators:

Lord caught up with Brinson and the two men struggled. Lord used his Taser, but Brinson ran back toward the street. A maroon-colored 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass drove up and stopped.

Witnesses said Brinson appeared to be dragging Lord as he approached the Oldsmobile. Lord tried to subdue Brinson with pepper spray.

A passenger in the car, Adam Burns, opened a rear door for Brinson. Lord tried to stop Brinson, but as Brinson got in the car it sped off, dragging the officer. He fired several shots at Brinson and Burns.

After about 150 feet, Lord fell and the Oldsmobile drove away.

Police found the vehicle soon after at an apartment complex at 430 13th Ave. S. Brinson and Burns were found nearby but not the unidentified female driver.

Brinson, 19, and Burns, 29, each were charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. Brinson also was charged with sale and possession of cocaine from an unrelated case.

Lord has been placed on paid administrative leave, standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting, Proffitt said.

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