Man drags Lake Wales officer, K9 through parking lot while fleeing arrest, police say

LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was arrested Sunday after police say he fled a traffic stop, injuring a Lake Wales officer and his canine partner in the process.

According to a release by the Lake Wales Police Department, just before 8 a.m. on U.S. Highway 27, one of their officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a driver going more than 30 mph over the posted speed limit.

Police say that Marlon Arrindell, 36, eventually pulled into a Chevron gas station, located at 900 W. Highway 60, but when the officer attempted to arrest him, he began to fight back.

LWPD said that the officer released his canine partner, K-9 Bolo, to assist, but Arrindell was able to reenter his vehicle and accelerate, dragging both the officer and the canine through the parking lot.

The officer and K-9 Bolo were treated for injuries sustained during the incident.

Other officers located Arrindell about a mile west on East Bay Boulevard, where he again fled, but this time on foot. Arrindell then attempted to climb a high barbed wire fence, injuring himself in the process.

The Lake Wales Police Department arrested Arrindell and charged him with driving while his license is suspended, fleeing to elude, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, injuring a police canine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.