Suspect accused of dragging Clayton County officer arrested

The search for a man police say dragged an officer during a traffic stop has come to an end.

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Clayton County police announced Friday that the department, along with the US Marshals and the South Fulton Police Department, took Christopher Harold Lovett into custody.

The department shared video of the arrest.

On Oct. 21, Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services responded to a call involving a police officer.

Around 2:15 p.m., fire officials said they responded to a call on Garden Walk Boulevard and Medical Center Drive regarding a police officer.

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Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said one of their officers was hurt when dragged by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop.

The driver, later identified as Lovett, sped away during the traffic stop and dragged the officer with the vehicle, CCPD said.

Lovett left the scene, sparking a nearly week-long manhunt. Police did not say where Lovett was arrested.

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The officer who was injured, Clayton County Officer P. Fender, told Channel 2’s Tom Jones he lost consciousness when he fell and hit his head.

Fender initially stopped the driver after he said he clocked him going 55 in a 25 mph school zone on Garden Walk Boulevard.

Pender spoke exclusively to Channel 2’s Tom Jones about this frightening ordeal. He walked him through what happened.

“So, the door was open. He was facing straight,” Fender demonstrated to Jones.

Before that, he told Jones police stops are very dangerous and officers have no idea who they are approaching.

He says this traffic stop ended up like no other when he was dragged 10 to 15 feet.

“That could have killed me,” Fender said.

He said he fell and hit his head after Lovett sped off, leaving him with a minor concussion and other scrapes and bruises.

“We could have been going faster and my head hit the ground. I might not be talking to you right now,” Fender said.

He says he holds no grudges against Lovett.

“I forgive him. It took me a second to realize that, but God told me to forgive him,” he said.