A Windsor police officer suffered serious injuries after he was dragged for 70 feet last night by an allegedly intoxicated hit-and-run driver who has since been arrested.
The officer, whose identity has not been released, had serious but non-life-threatening injuries and is doing better today, said Sgt. John Spreitzer of the Loveland Police Department.
Richard Schwartzenberger, 38, of Windsor has been arrested for investigation of obstructing a police officer, driving while impaired with alcohol, vehicular assault, reckless driving and resisting arrest.
The officer was controlling traffic at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland for a Harlem Globetrotters show at 7:05 p.m. when an intoxicated driver approached in a car intending to turn left through traffic cones, Spreitzer said.
The officer told him he could only turn right to leave the facility, but the man argued and indicated his intention to disobey the officer, he said. The police officer then reached inside the vehicle to turn the car off.
“As soon as he reached in the guy hit the gas pedal,” Spreitzer said. “He literally had to drive through cones to do this.”
The officer was dragged for 70 feet. Loveland police officer Tim Younger saw the confrontation, pursued and arrested Schwartzenberger, he said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
