Man leads cops on highway chase after stealing car, dragging victim, and trying to run down state trooper: Police

Authorities say that a suspect stole a vehicle, dragged its owner, and attempted to run down a police officer as he fled from the scene, First State Update reported Sunday.

What are the details?

Delaware State Police arrested 43-year-old William Tatman of Lincoln, Delaware, on a variety of felony charges after a Saturday night incident unfolded.

It all began around 5:00 p.m. at a beach community when Tatman was reportedly found to be in the process of trying to locate a vehicle to steal.

First State Update reported that authorities responded to Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach for reports of a theft in progress. When they arrived, they saw a suspect later identified as Tatman "going through vehicles" at a property.

Tatman then reportedly fled toward an apartment building across the street and located a vacant running vehicle, which he is said to have entered through its driver's side door.

"As the first trooper arrived on scene, he observed the victim being dragged as he was attempting to open the driver’s side door to stop the suspect from driving away," the report continued. "The trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop Tatman, but he fled in the stolen vehicle."

The report added, "The trooper pursued Tatman onto westbound Lewes-Georgetown Highway where he attempted to strike a trooper who was attempting to deploy stop sticks said Hatchell."

The pursuit continued another few miles before troopers were successfully able to deploy stop sticks.

Authorities took him into custody without further incident and arrested him on several counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, reckless endangering first degree, disregarding a police officer signal, theft of a motor vehicle, theft under $1,500, resisting arrest, and more.

He was arraigned, then committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $146,353.00 cash bond.