Officer hangs onto car as driver tries to flee scene of crash

An off-duty homeland security officer who tried to intervene in a Thursday night crash got taken on a ride while the driver was trying to flee the scene.

It began when the driver of a black Lexus, Sean Hacker, 33, of Gresham, turned from Northeast Glisan Street onto Northeast 223rd Avenue. The car spun out and hit a tree on the sidewalk north of the intersection, Gresham police said.

An off-duty homeland security officer observed the crash and tried to intervene. The driver fled the scene while the officer was reaching into the car to take the keys. The officer was hanging onto the door while the car was traveling in reverse southbound on 223rd for about 150 feet before the driver stopped, and the officer was able to let go without injury.

The driver continued to drive in reverse until he reached the driveway of Crunch Fitness, located at 355 N.E. 223rd Ave. There he tried to turn around while still driving in reverse, and hit a raised curb.

The driver ran from the scene on foot. A police dog tracked him to a swampy area west of the crash, and he ran into officers who had set up a perimeter.

Hacker faces a variety of charges and is lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center.