Woman arrested after Covington officer dragged by car

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Destinee Riggins is accused of dragging a Covington police officer with her car during a traffic stop following a shoplifting call on Friday. (Credit: Covington Police Department)

COVINGTON, Ga. - A woman is in custody after a police officer was dragged by a car in Covington on Friday afternoon, according to police. 

What we know:

The incident began around 4:30 p.m. on Friday when Covington police officers responded to a shoplifting report at a local Walmart.

"The suspect had left by the time the officers got there, but our officer actually located the vehicle across the street pulling into a gas station," said Covington Police Detective Daniel Seals.

When the officer pulled the vehicle over at a busy QuikTrip on Highway 142 near Interstate 20, the driver suddenly accelerated. Witnesses captured the incident showing the vehicle speeding off with the officer clinging to the side.

"The driver left so fast, the officer just held on as best he could," Detective Seals said.

The officer was thrown from the vehicle as the driver turned onto Highway 142. Witness reports described swarms of emergency vehicles flooding the area shortly after the officer was injured.

Emergency responders took the officer to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Detective Seals said the officer is stable with bumps and bruises, but hospital staff are running tests to make sure the officer is okay. 

Following the incident, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol joined Covington police in a multi-agency search for Riggins.

Officers in nearby Porterdale located the suspect vehicle with two occupants inside, but Riggins was not in the car. Authorities eventually tracked her down to a nearby apartment complex around 8:30 p.m., where she was taken into custody without further incident.

"There's no reason to take a shoplifting pullover and turn it into an assault on a police officer. And, frankly, a horribly dangerous drive through a very, very busy gas station at rush hour," Detective Seals said. 

Riggins faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault on a police officer, felony fleeing and eluding and shoplifting. 

Detectives noted that charges against Riggins could be upgraded depending on the full extent of the officer's injuries following testing at Grady Memorial Hospital.

What we don't know:

The officer's identity has not been released at this time. 

Authorities did not say the specific items that were taken during the initial shoplifting incident at Walmart.