Suspect Arrested After Dragging Police Officer with Car in Rishon LeZion
A 27-year-old suspect was arrested in Israel after dragging a police officer with his car during an escape attempt in Rishon LeZion. The court extended his remand.
A 27-year-old resident of Or Yehuda, Or Polgar, was arrested after allegedly fleeing from two police officers in Rishon LeZion, dragging one of them for hundreds of meters while she was clinging to his car. During his interrogation, Polgar claimed he never noticed the officer.
The Incident and Arrest
The event began during an operation by two officers from the Rishon LeZion police station, who identified Polgar as a suspect wanted for questioning regarding property crimes, including theft and burglary. According to police, when asked to identify himself, Polgar entered his car and attempted to flee.
One of the officers grabbed the driver's door in an attempt to stop him. She was dragged alongside the vehicle for roughly 200 to 300 meters before falling onto the road and sustaining injuries. She was later evacuated for medical treatment with light injuries. Polgar continued driving and escaped the scene, but his vehicle was later located in Holon, where police say he attempted to flee on foot with his dog. The dog bit several officers, and forces used pepper spray to subdue both the suspect and the dog.
"I told myself—either I get dragged across the entire road or I jump inside. So I just jumped in with my feet so I wouldn't be dragged," recalled Staff Sergeant Izabel Danilov.
Court Proceedings
During the remand hearing at the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court, Polgar's defense attorney, Eli Masterman, argued that his client did not notice the officer holding onto the car and believed he had been given permission to leave. Judge Guy Maimon reviewed video footage of the incident and ruled that the officer was forced to cling to the vehicle against her will. The court extended Polgar's remand by three days, noting that he had also run a red light and hit a truck during his escape.
