A Massachusetts man is accused of being drunk behind the wheel when he grabbed and dragged a state police trooper at a crash scene in Braintree on Wednesday night.
Thirty-year-old Jose Molina of Lynn faces numerous charges, including operating under the influence of liquor, assault and battery of a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
State police said the incident started around 11 p.m. on Interstate 93 northbound when troopers responded to a multi-vehicle crash, which ended up blocking part of the roadway, leaving only the right lane open.
Molina, in a silver Honda Accord, allegedly had stopped in the right lane, with his phone out the window in an apparent attempt to take a photo or video of the crash scene.
A trooper twice told the driver, later identified as Molina, to put his phone down and keep driving, but when Molina started swearing at the trooper after the second warning and started rolling away, the trooper asked him to stop his car several times.
Another trooper then started to come over to help and ordered Molina to stop the car, which is when Molina allegedly started to drive faster, hitting the second trooper with his side view mirror. The trooper tried to take the car's keys out of the ignition, but Molina then allegedly grabbed the trooper's arm, accelerated the car and dragged the trooper for about 15 yards before the trooper was able to free himself.
After a short chase, Molina was apprehended. Both he and the trooper who was dragged were taken to South Shore Hospital. State police said Molina was complaining of a "minor abrasion to his head," while the trooper was also treated and released for an unspecified minor injury.
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Investigators said they found a Corona beer and a Dunkin' Donuts cup containing alcohol inside Molina's car.
Bail was set at $20,000 overnight, and he was due in Quincy District Court on Thursday. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
