Driver Accused Of Grabbing Cyclist, Dragging Him On The Road
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 64-year-old Mendota Heights man faces charges after admitting to police that he took hold of a bicyclist this summer and dragged him alongside his car, driving fast enough to make his car tires squeal.
Alvin Lee Johnson is charged with first-degree damage to property and fifth-degree assault in connection to the incident, court documents filed in Dakota County say.
According to a criminal complaint, Johnson drove by three bicyclists on July 19 in Mendota Heights, and one of the cyclists flipped him off. In response, Johnson drove ahead of the cyclists, and pulled over to the side of the road.
The man who flipped Johnson off told him he needed to give bicyclists three feet of road space, and lightly slapped Johnson's left arm. Johnson then grabbed hold of the cyclist and drove about 30 feet, accelerating so that his tires squealed.
The bicyclist's shoes were clipped into his pedals, so he couldn't break free, and he was dragged along the road. He suffered road rash, and his bike sustained more than $1,000 in damage, the complaint states.
When police spoke with Johnson, he admitted to grabbing the cyclist and dragging him a short distance. If convicted of both charges, he could face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and/or an $11,000 fine.
