Suspects drag Trooper and Officer, then flee

Canterbury, Conn. (WTNH) - Police are searching for two suspects who dragged a State Trooper and a Plainfield police officer behind their vehicle during a struggle Friday night.

The incident happened just before 6 p.m., on Route 14 in Canterbury.

State Trooper Chris Toney was on patrol when he saw a suspicious vehicle pulling out of a driveway from an abandoned home. Trooper Toney then attempted to pull the vehicle over near the Canterbury Fire House, with assistance from Plainfield Police Officer Kenneth Davidson.

Police then discovered the male passenger, 22-year-old Mark Mills, was wanted on two failure to appear in court arrest warrants.

When Trooper Toney and Officer Davidson attempted to remove Mills from the vehicle, a struggle began, and Mills yelled for the female driver to drive away.

As the car began to drive away, Trooper Toney and Officer Davidson were still partially inside the vehicle. Both were dragged a short distance before falling to the ground. Both sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Mills and the female driver, later identified as 19-year-old Cara Cote, of 18 Salmon Dr., Moosup, fled the scene.

The car is described as a silver-colored Chevy Lumina with Connecticut registration 145-JCL.

Trooper Toney was treated at Day Kimball Hospital and released. Officer Davidson declined medical treatment.

Mills is facing charges of two counts of assault on public safety/emergency personnel, two counts of interfering with an officer, and two count of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Cote is facing charges of two counts of assault on public safety/emergency personnel, two counts of interfering with an officer, two counts first-degree reckless endangerment, stop sign violation, and failure to carry certificate registration/insurance.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the vehicle or either suspect is asked to contact State Police Troop D at 860-779-7900.