Melbourne police officer dragged by car in high school parking lot

Kyre’e Johnson, 25, arrested near Palm Bay Magnet High School

Kyre’e Johnson, 25 (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A man was arrested Friday, accused of dragging a police officer to the ground with his car in a school parking lot.

Kyre’e Johnson, 25, was arrested near Palm Bay Magnet High School in Melbourne.

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A Melbourne police officer who was working off-duty to escort traffic at end of the school football game said he was told by bystanders about a group of males in ski masks on the east end of the parking lot, according to the arrest report.

The officer said he and a detective approached the four men, whom the officer said were “loitering stealthily in the shadows of vehicles.”

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Upon seeing the officer, however, the four men ran off and got into a red Hyundai sedan, the arrest report shows. The officer stated he recognized several of them for their frequent involvement in violent and gang-related crimes in Melbourne.

When the officer ordered the person in the front passenger seat to roll down the window, police said the driver — later identified as Johnson — hit the gas and knocked the officer to the ground. Investigators said the car nearly ran over the officer.

The officer said he ran to the vehicle and, seeing that the passenger had a firearm out, drew his own gun. Investigators said Johnson again refused orders to stop the car and reversed into two vehicles.

Police said the people in the vehicle then ran off. A police dog found Johnson who then immediately surrendered, records show.

According to the arrest report, five firearms were later recovered from the scene.

Police said Johnson faces charges of aggravated battery with a vehicle on law enforcement, aggravated fleeing and eluding, disrupting a school function, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and driving without a license issued.

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