A driver who allegedly dragged a Chicago cop for several blocks with her car during a traffic stop in River North this week got out of jail by posting just $5,000 bond after a court hearing, according to court records.
The woman’s passenger, who is charged with possessing less than three ounces of marijuana, actually received stricter bail conditions than she did.
According to prosecutors, when officers pulled Jasmine Smith over for a traffic violation in the 700 block of North State around 4 p.m., she had a state ID but no license. Cops said they smelled burnt weed coming from the vehicle, too.
After Smith and her passenger, Christopher Fleming, repeatedly refused to get out of the car, a cop reached through the passenger-side window to remove Smith’s seatbelt, prosecutors said. That’s when Smith, age 28, allegedly put her car into drive and accelerated down State Street with the cop hanging out of her car.
The officer tried to put the car into park as Smith dragged him down the street, “disregarding multiple red lights” along the way, according to prosecutors. Once the cop managed to put the car into park, Fleming allegedly told her to keep going. Smith put her car back into drive and sped away with the officer still hanging out of the vehicle, an assistant state’s attorney said.
The cop shifted the car into park again after being “dragged several city blocks,” according to prosecutors. She then allegedly struggled with officers who tried to take her into custody.
An ambulance transported the officer to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition with a knee injury, according to a CPD statement.
Private security cameras, CPD vehicle dashcams, and officers’ body-worn cameras recorded the incident.
Prosecutors charged Smith with felony aggravated battery of a peace officer; felony aggravated fleeing causing injury; misdemeanor reckless driving; and three citations.
Police said they found 73 grams of cannabis and $1,507 cash in Fleming’s possession during a custody search after the incident. He is charged with felony possession of cannabis.
According to Illinois Department of Corrections records, Fleming, age 38, was paroled in April after serving half of a three-year sentence that he received for resisting police. He has previous convictions for aggravated fleeing, home invasion, and robbery, according to IDOC.
Judge Mary Marubio set bail for Smith at $50,000. Marubio set the same bail for Fleming but also ordered him to go onto electronic monitoring if he posts bond.
Smith, who allegedly dragged the police officer for several blocks, posted a 10% deposit bond and went home after the bail hearing, records show.
Fleming remains jailed on the marijuana charge.
