Thursday, 4:30 PM
Danvers detectives OK after being dragged by drug suspect's SUV
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
Danvers detectives approached an alleged drug dealer's sport utility vehicle in a parking lot Thursday night armed with a search warrant and displaying their badges and opened the doors, according to police and prosecutors.
The suspect, Todd A. Scioli, threw the black Chevy Tahoe into reverse and caught the detectives with the open doors, dragging them along the pavement as he tried to escape, said Elizabeth A. Satelmajer, an assistant prosecutor in the Essex district attorney’s office.
"The detectives were yelling at the defendant to stop," Satelmajer said today in Salem District Court. "He refused to stop."
The detectives pulled out their guns and fired several rounds at Scioli as they were dragged, but the bullets did not hit him, said Satelmajer. Scioli stopped the SUV and ran, but was quickly arrested, she said.
Scioli pleaded not guilty today to a host of charges that included possession of OxyContin and Xanex, two counts of attempted murder, and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer. Scioli was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on June 22.
Police did not release the names of the two detectives who were treated and released at Beverly Hospital Thursday night.
"They suffered minor injuries from being dragged along the pavement," said Danvers police Chief Neil F. Ouellette. "Fortunately they are OK."
Ouellette would not say how far the men were dragged or how many shots the detectives fired.
According to Satelmajer, undercover detectives had made at least five drug buys from Scioli before they approached his SUV in the parking lot of Lowe's Home Improvement at about 7:30 p.m. When Scioli ran from his SUV, he threw away an orange bottle that police say contained 13 OxyContin pills and 20 Xanex.
Scioli had been living at the Carriage House Hotel in Peabody, where police searched his room and allegedly found marijuana, cocaine, and OxyContin, Satelmajer said. Peabody police may file additional charges.
