Southern California deputy dragged across parking lot by suspect vehicle

A man is in custody after authorities said he dragged a deputy with his car during an attempted arrest in Ventura.

The suspect was identified as Bryan Ismael Torres, 30, from Ventura, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. 

At the time, he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. On Aug. 13, deputies spotted Torres at a gas station at around 8:30 p.m.

Authorities approached Torres and attempted to arrest him but he refused to cooperate, deputies said. He got back into his car and drove away while deputies were still trying to take him into custody. 

As the suspect sped off, “he dragged one of the deputies from his vehicle a distance through the gas station parking lot” before escaping, authorities said.

The deputy was transported to a local hospital for injury treatment. His wounds were non-life-threatening, officials confirmed.

The Ventura Police Department arrived at the scene and took over the investigation. The next day, officers located Torres in Oxnard where he was taken into custody.

He was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, resisting an executive officer and the initial outstanding Post Release Offender Status felony warrant.

He is being held on $10,000 bail. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16 at Ventura County Superior Court.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call Ventura Police Detective Stephanie Avila at 805-339-4478.