Dalton officer Richard CookA domestic dispute that turned violent ended Wednesday with an assault on a Dalton police officer and two men under arrest.
Ramiro Sanchez, 26, of Dalton, and Matthew John Katsianis, 21, of Norcross, were charged. The officer's injuries were not serious, according to a police news release.
Police spokesman Bruce Frazier said Sanchez showed up at his ex-girlfriend's house on North Hamilton Street about 8 a.m. Witnesses reported that Sanchez was beating on the door and attempted to kick it in as he tried to get inside. When those attempts failed, witnesses said Sanchez used a crowbar to bash the windshield of the victim's car.
When Dalton officer Richard Cook arrived, Sanchez had run behind the house. Cook chased him and caught up in a gravel parking lot at 924 Selvidge St., where a white car was waiting with the passenger door open.
Cook grabbed Sanchez and tried to arrest him, but Sanchez was holding on to the car. The driver, Katsianis, punched the gas and tried to drive Sanchez and Cook approximately 20-30 feet before Sanchez let go.
Katsianis stopped the car and complied with Cook's commands, but Frazier said Sanchez continued to resist arrest until Officer John Edwards, arrived and helped cuff Sanchez.
Cook suffered scrapes and a sprained knee from being dragged by the vehicle.
Katsianis was charged with being a party to a crime, conspiracy to commit a crime, aggravated assault on a police officer, and felony obstruction of justice.
Sanchez was charged with aggravated stalking, criminal trespass, criminal attempt to commit burglary, felony obstruction of justice, four counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.