Man accused of dragging Philly officer 200 feet by car during 2023 traffic stop sentenced

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man accused of dragging a police officer 200 feet with his Tesla last summer has been sentenced and immediately paroled to house arrest.

The incident unfolded on July 10, 2023, around 10 p.m. when two highway patrol officers stopped Eddy Brito-Almonte near Cheltenham Avenue and Charles Street in Frankford for traffic violations.

Officers say they noticed a gun on the floor of Brito-Almonte’s car, and when one of them reached for it, he took off in reverse, dragging the officer. Then, when the officer wouldn’t fall out of the vehicle, he put the car in drive and dragged the officer another 100 feet.

Judge Zachary Shaffer sentenced Brito-Almonte to 11 ½ to 23 months and two years probation, with an immediate release to house arrest.

The 21-year-old has been in custody since last summer after he pleaded guilty in May to fleeing police, aggravated and simple assault, resisting arrest, and a slew of other charges.