Norwood Police Officer Struck During Vehicle Stop, Two Arrested

NORWOOD (CBS) -- A driver and one of his passengers were arrested after police say the driver hit a Norwood police officer and led police from three departments on a chase early Wednesday morning.

Steven Brant, 29, of Norwood was arrested on charges of operating under the influence of drugs, negligence, and failure to stop, as well as for six outstanding warrants. His passenger, Kelly Dutcher, 53, of Norwood, was arrested for warrants from a previous, unrelated incident.

The officer who was struck was taken to Norwood Hospital for minor injuries, and police said he is expected to be fine.

Around 1 a.m. Wednesday on Lenox Avenue, Norwood police located and stopped Brant, who they were searching for on warrants stemming from a previous incident. When officers tried to get him out of his truck, they said he refused, instead driving away.

Police said that as Brant drove away, one officer was hit and knocked to the ground by either the door or the mirror of the man's truck.

"We're lucky that he didn't roll under the truck, and we're lucky the truck didn't go over him or hit him more significantly than it did," said Police Chief Bill Brooks.

Police said Brant led police on a chase that went through Walpole and Foxboro, with both of those towns' police departments assisting in the pursuit. State Police also participated, disabling the truck in Walpole using stop sticks. Police said Brant drove back into Norwood, crashed into a pole on Prospect Street, and was arrested.

Brant and Dutcher were taken to the hospital after they were taken into custody. Two other passengers who were in the truck with Brant and Dutcher were released.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports