Chicago — A woman who allegedly dragged a Chicago police officer for several blocks through River North while trying to evade a traffic stop has been sentenced to probation.
Jasmine Smith, 30, pleaded guilty this month to aggravated fleeing through two or more traffic control devices and resisting police. Judge Lauren Edidin handed down the sentence.
Officers pulled Smith over for a traffic violation in the 700 block of North State on the afternoon of December 7, 2020. Prosecutors said during her initial bail hearing that she had a state ID but no driver’s license, so the cops asked her and her passenger to step out of the car.
But Smith and the passenger refused to get out, prompting a cop to reach through the passenger-side window to remove her seatbelt, prosecutors said. That’s when Smith allegedly put the car into drive and accelerated down State Street with the cop hanging out of the side window.
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 get the car into park, the passenger 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 during the December 8, 2020, bail hearing.
The cop shifted the car into park again after being “dragged several city blocks,” according to prosecutors. Smith then allegedly struggled with officers who tried to take her into custody.
Private security cameras, CPD vehicle dashcams, and officers’ body-worn cameras allegedly recorded the incident.
CPD said the officer was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a knee injury.