Santa Cruz Police Officer Dragged and Injured by Escaping Truck

A 37-year-old Santa Cruz Police officer was injured Wednesday night when a truck he stopped pulled away and dragged him 30 feet.

The officer's name was withheld by the department because he is the victim of a crime, according to spokesman Zach Friend, who expects the nine-year veteran to recover quickly.

The officer spotted a suspicious truck at 10 p.m. around the 200 block of Jackson Street and pulled up to talk to the two people inside.

When he radioed for information on the truck, he found out it was stolen. Just as he was getting the information, the truck pulled away, trapping the officer who was standing at the driver's door. He was thrown from the truck and barely escaped getting run over.

The people in the truck abandoned it on Isbel Court and were picked up by another car.

The officer was treated overnight at Dominican Hospital. He is off-duty, recovering.

Police are looking for Ryan Mang, 37, and Shivan Armstrong, who were identified through a records search and statements from the officer.

They have extensive criminal records, police said, and are wanted for felony assault on an officer.