Newark Man Accused Of Dragging Massachusetts Police Officer In Stolen Car

Just after 7:00 on Saturday evening, February 23, 2019, a Wellesley Massachusetts Police Officer stopped a motor vehicle on Worcester Street at Route 128. The vehicle was a silver 2017 Nissan Altima bearing a temporary registration tag 38C7291 and was believed to be from Texas.

When the officer ran the vehicle he discovered that the vehicle was stolen out of Delaware, according to police. As the officer attempted to take the suspect, later identified as Theodore William Newton, 37, of Newark, Delaware, into custody a struggle ensued and the suspect began driving eastbound on Worcester Street dragging the officer, according to authorities.

Officials said the officer was dragged approximately 15 feet before he was able to free himself from the vehicle. The officer was transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Wellesley Police Detectives began investigating an incident and learned that Newton was possibly in Boston. They also learned that Newton had been the passenger in a 2019 Kia Optima that had been stopped by the Boston Police earlier in the evening.

On February 24, 2019, at approximately 12:50 a.m. a Massachusetts State Police Trooper conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 84 West of a 2019 Kia Optima. While the Trooper was speaking with the operator of the vehicle a male party in the rear of the vehicle asked why the vehicle had been stopped. The Trooper then requested his identification and he indicated he did not have one and stated his name was Brendan Newton, said police. While speaking with this individual the Trooper noted that he had a neck tattoo.

The Trooper went to his cruiser and he was advised by the communications center that the vehicle was wanted in connection to a motor vehicle stop that had occurred in Wellesley on February 23, 2019 where an officer was injured as a vehicle fled the scene. He was further advised that the suspect wanted from that encounter had a neck tattoo and was provided with an image of Theodore Newton. The Trooper returned to the Kia and asked the rear passenger to step out of the vehicle so he could speak with him further. At that time, he confirmed that despite having identified himself as Brendan Newton, the passenger was, in fact, Theodore Newton.

Newton was taken into custody and transported to the State Police Barracks where he was processed and later released to the Wellesley Police Department.

Newton is being held without bail and will be transported to Dedham District Court today, February 25, 2019. He is being charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Failure to Stop for a Police Officer While Operating a Motor Vehicle, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident with Personal Injury, Malicious Destruction of Property Over $250, Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License.

The Wellesley Police Officer who was injured during the motor vehicle stop was released from the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is home recovering.

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