PORTLAND (AP) – Portland’s police chief said it’s amazing nobody was seriously injured or killed when a Buxton man dragged two officers who were hanging onto his pickup truck as they tried to arrest him on drug charges.

The incident Tuesday night began when Officers Cheryl Holmes and Mary Sauschuck were sent to a dead-end street off Forest Avenue after residents reported that people appeared to be using drugs in a pickup truck.

Two passengers obeyed orders to get out of the truck, but a man later identified as 47-year-old Donald Giroux locked his door and refused to get out.

With Holmes attempting to grab him through the open passenger side door and Sauschuck hanging onto the driver’s door, Giroux sped off through the icy parking lot and into the street, said Police Chief Tim Burton.

Holmes was halfway into the truck and Sauschuck was clinging to the side as Giroux’s truck hit a house, a utility pole and a building, Burton said.

Sauschuck fired a single shot, which struck the steering column, before both officers were thrown from the pickup. Another officer arrested Giroux after he crashed his truck.

Sauschuck acted appropriately in firing at Giroux to protect herself and Holmes, Burton said.

“I not only think it was reasonable, I think it was necessary,” he said.

Holmes and Sauschuck were on medical leave as they recovered from bruises and sprains.

Giroux, 47, was charged with aggravated assault, assault on a police officer, reckless conduct and cocaine possession. He was freed on $10,600 bail.

The shooting will be reviewed by the Maine attorney general’s office, as are all cases when an officer uses deadly force.

The others in the truck were charged on unrelated warrants.

AP-ES-12-29-05 1250EST

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