Suffolk News-Herald

Two Suffolk police officers were taken to Obici Hospital with minor injuries received early Monday while attempting to arrest a suspect who eluded authorities on a pursuit through downtown.

Officers C.L. Grant and D. Hawkes were dragged about 25 feet after the suspect, Anthony A. Brinkley, 39, of the 2400 block of Hosier Road, put his car into reverse and backed up into a police cruiser, said Officer Michael W. Mckenzie, spokesman for the Suffolk Police Department.

Both officers were treated and released from the hospital, McKenzie said. The two officers had opened the car door trying to get Brinkley from the car.

The incident began around 1:40 a.m., when Officer E.A. Bender stopped Brinkley and a passenger for speeding on the U.S. Route 58 Bypass, near the Wilroy Road exit. Although Bender directed both suspects to remain in the car, the passenger got out and the vehicle sped off.

Officer J. N. Antinarelli, on his way to help Bender when he spotted the car heading south on Wilroy, attempted to stop the car, McKenzie said. Brinkley refused to stop, leading authorities on a pursuit that went into the downtown area.

The chase was called off because of safety issues, he said.

Meanwhile, officers went to Brinkley’s Hosier Road address, where the car was registered, and waited for him. When he pulled up in front of his house, three police cars were waiting for him.

When Brinkley refused to get out of his car, Grant and Hawkes opened his car door to pull from the vehicle.

Brinkley, 39, is being held without bond in Western Tidewater Regional Jail. He is charged with two counts of malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, two counts of attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, felony destruction of city property, felony eluding police and felony habitual offender.