Police officer dies after allegedly being dragged under car in WA

A young police officer who was allegedly run down and dragged under a car during an attempted arrest has died.

“It is with great sadness that the WA Police Force confirms the passing of Constable Anthony Woods, who succumbed to injuries suffered in the line of duty, while attending an incident in Ascot earlier this week,” police said in a statement on Sunday night.

“Constable Anthony Woods exemplified the values of the WA Police Force, and his memory will be forever etched in our hearts.

“WA Police extend heartfelt condolences to Anthony’s family, colleagues and all those who knew and loved him.”

The alleged incident, which took place in a cul-de-sac in the inner-eastern Perth suburb Ascot early on Thursday morning, initially caused Constable Woods, 28, to be taken to Royal Perth Hospital and placed in an induced coma.

Police allege they were following a vehicle with stolen licence plates at about 1am when it came to a stop in the cul-de-sac. It alleged that officers attempted to detain the vehicle’s three occupants, at which point Constable Woods was run over.

All three occupants were initially taken into custody. A 23-year-old man from Belmont was charged with act intended to prevent arrest, girevous bodily harm, steal motor vehicle, reckless driving to escape pursuit, possession of a prohibited drug (alleged to be methyl amphetamine), and possesssion of a prohibited drug implement.

He appeared briefly in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday but did not apply for bail.

The two other occupants of the car, a 20-year-old woman and 25-year-old man, were released “pending further investigation.”

The alleged incident has been labelled “disgraceful” by senior police and politicians.

“Our hearts go out to the family of that police officer and indeed the whole policing family,” Mr Cook said when Constable Woods was still aliv ein hospital.

The efforts of police officers have been praised after they moved a car and performed CPR in an attempt to keep their critically injured colleague alive.