INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An Indian River County deputy was dragged during a traffic stop in Fellsmere Sunday morning, according to authorities.
On Aug. 11, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Indian River County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Bell was conducting a traffic stop on County Road 512 in Fellsmere. One of the passengers in the car, Andrew Coffee Sr., 33, was in the process of being arrested for a drug possession charge when he broke from Dep. Bell’s grip and got back in the car.
The driver, later identified as Wesley Clark, 28, drove away, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
As the driver fled the scene of the traffic stop, Dep. Bell was attempting to restrain Coffee, and as a result, Dep. Bell was dragged several feet and nearly run over by the car’s rear tire, according to authorities.
Dep. Bell followed the vehicle to the entrance to Vero Lake Estates at 101st Avenue and County Road 512 where it had crashed into a sign. Coffee and the driver fled the scene on foot and a female passenger remained with the car.
Dep. Bell suffered minor injuries consisting of scrapes and abrasions on his face, forearm, and knee as a result of being dragged, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A search of the area by deputies and a K-9 officer from the Sebastian Police Department resulted in Coffee being arrested in the 9000 block of 101st Court, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Andrew Coffee IV, 19, the son of Andrew Coffee Sr., was stopped by the Sebastian Police Department in the area of the 9000 block of 101st Court as Sebastian officers were assisting with the search for Coffee Sr., according to authorities.
Coffee IV was found to have an app on his cell phone that allowed him to hear the law enforcement radio traffic of deputies searching for his father. Coffee IV told deputies that he heard his father had been shot and was in the area to look for him.
Deputies believe it is more likely that Coffee Sr. was in contact with his son and the two were attempting to arrange for Coffee Sr. to be picked up so as to avoid capture.
Coffee Sr. faces charges of resisting arrest without violence, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, giving a false name while detained, theft (for taking the deputy’s handcuffs), and tampering or destroying evidence. He posted $23,000 bond and was released Monday afternoon, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Arrest warrants for Wesley Clark for aggravated battery on law enforcement officer with deadly weapon, flee and elude, and leaving scene of accident with property damage have been issued, according to authorities.
Anyone with information about Clark’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office at (772) 978-6240. Those wishing to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 and can provide information through Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477 or www.tcwatch.org. Please refer to Indian River County Sheriff’s Office case number 2013-126037.
Coffee IV, faces charges of obstruction of justice and unlawful use of police communications. He is being held in the Indian River County Jail on $500 bond, according to the Sheriff’s Office.