DeLand, FL : SUV driver, dog die in crash after officer dragged early Wednesday, February 1, 2017

A man and dog were killed in a violent, fiery crash early Wednesday in DeLand, just moments after a police officer was dragged while trying to stop him, authorities said.

DeLand Police said Justin L. Johnson, 26, of Lake Helen was the driver who died in the crash that left a white SUV a mangled shell and scattered debris all over the roadway.

It all started just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, when a taxi driver called police to say he had a female passenger in his car and they were being followed by her boyfriend, investigators said.

The taxi driver was taking the woman to Florida Hospital in DeLand and told police that some type of a "disturbance" took place between her and the boyfriend.

Officer Tony Tagle intersected the boyfriend's white Chevrolet SUV near Plymouth and Orange avenues and stopped him.

Tagle noticed drugs in plain view in the SUV, police said. When he asked the driver to get out of the vehicle, he slammed the door on the officer's hand, trapping him, police stated.

The driver took off, dragging the officer several feet before he broke free.

Minutes later, another DeLand officer came upon a fiery crash on the 100 block of South Stone Street, where a driver and dog had died. An SUV had struck a tree and flipped, ending up twisted and wrecked in the middle of the roadway.

Police determined it was the same SUV that was allegedly following the taxi and dragged Tagle.

A woman who lives right behind the crash said she's thankful the vehicle didn't go into their house while they were sleeping.

“We’re very thankful nobody was hurt or injured," Michelle Nemoto said. "The dogs were all inside the house, so everybody was safe. But our main concern is that a young man lost his life today, and of course the dog too — that’s always sad.”

Tagle was taken to a hospital for treatment on his hand and was released.

Source :
DeLand Police: SUV driver, dog die in crash after officer dragged