Camera captures officer being towed by car while driver drives fast
Officer Kieron Poole said his meeting with Muhammad Nadeem was initially quite friendly, but things escalated as soon as he mentioned cannabis. (Credit: West Midlands Police via Storyful)
WEST MIDLANDS, United Kingdom – When police in the United Kingdom showed Muhammad Nadeem the graphic footage of his arrest in January 2020, he even had to admit that the incident ‘did not look good’.
Police in the West Midlands released the video Thursday in which Nadeem’s officer Kieron Poole appears next to his car, despite the officer’s repeated order to stop.
Nadeem, now 19, has admitted the crimes captured on camera and awaiting sentencing, police said in a news release. They added that he was ‘shocked’ when the footage was shown and admitted that it ‘did not look good’.
The video shows Poole interviewing Nadeem, despite cold weather in a car with the windows down. Nadeem told Poole he smokes cigarettes, but Poole said he could smell marijuana.
After Poole mentioned cannabis, Nadeem turned the engine on and sped away with Poole still hanging from the driver’s side window, authorities said.
On body material, Officer Kieron Poole was seen grabbing the keys while a suspect drove away and dragging Poole with him. (Credit: West Midlands Police via Storyful)
“It all happened so fast,” Poole said in the news release. “Before I knew it, my arm was attached to the car and I was hanging on the side, through a few branches, a full 20-30 feet before I knew what was happening.”
Poole screamed for help, fearing he would fall under the wheels and die while the car sped away.
‘I shouted’ Stop! Stop, ‘but he paid no attention,’ Poole recalls. “I knew I had to get the key to the ignition.”
Eventually Poole succeeds and chases Nadeem on foot into a cul-de-sac, where the pursuit could end.
“I instinctively chased him. He was in the corner and I was hoping he would give up. Instead, he decided to rush at me with a bottle and hit me on the side of the head with a plastic bottle. “My adrenaline is going so I felt I could try to chase him,” Poole explained.
For another five minutes, Poole ran after Nadeem and even raced across a busy road at one point. Eventually, the pursuit slowed to a hike.
At this point, Poole was nursing a bruised arm. Since he had already been assaulted, Poole kept his distance and waited for the backup to come.
Officer Kieron Poole (left) said his meeting with Muhammad Nadeem (right) was initially ‘very friendly’, but things escalated as soon as he mentioned cannabis. (Credit: West Midlands Police via Storyful)
“I want to thank the quick response from the neighborhood officials who arrived within minutes to help me,” Poole said.
Poole returned to the parking lot where the incident began to fetch his hat that had fallen off in the middle of the fight.
After investigating Nadeem’s car, investigators found an ax and a hammer. Nadeem also had a small amount of marijuana on him.
This story was reported from Atlanta.