Authorities say a man has been arrested and charged after a town of Tonawanda police officer was hospitalized on Monday.
Investigators say the incident started as a traffic stop. They say the driver sped off from the stop in a vehicle that was reportedly stolen, dragging the town police officer around 60 feet on Sheridan Parkside Drive.
Dareious Akbar, 19, is accused of driving the alleged stolen vehicle and seriously injuring Officer David Piatek. Police say Akbar is charged with attempted murder, assault and possession of stolen property.
Piatek was rushed to ECMC Monday night with serious head trauma, authorities say. He remains in the intensive care unit on Wednesday.
Officer Piatek has been with the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for two years. He has a wife and two young children.
Police say Akbar was arrested for two separate car thefts, one in September and the other in October of last year.
Akbar pleaded guilty to the incident in October in which he stole another Kia vehicle. He was released without bail, pending sentencing.
Akbar is due back in court on June 5 to face his latest set of charges.