'We were lucky to walk away': duo get dragged along by car

18 May 2026

Two frontline police officers have spoken of the terrifying moments they were dragged by a reversing vehicle while attempting to detain a suspected drug dealer - an incident they say could easily have ended in tragedy.

Police Constables Steve Coughlan and Owen Turner were on patrol late last year when what began as routine community-based intelligence work escalated into a life-threatening confrontation.

The pair, who admit to having a proactive approach to tackling drug activity, driven by a shared determination to get dealers off the streets, were out following up on intelligence about a vehicle believed to be linked to drug supply when it drove past them.

"You couldn't write it - by chance, the car drove straight past us," said 23-year-old Owen, who has three years' service, and recalls quickly writing down the number plate.

 

Police Constables Steve Coughlan (left) and Owen Turner

 

After conducting checks, the officers followed the vehicle and signalled it to stop. Although it initially appeared to slow, it failed to respond to emergency lights.

"Either he hadn't seen us, or he was deliberately failing to stop," Steve, 41, who has served five years in the Force, said.

With the car still moving, the officers made the decision to pull in front of it to bring it to a halt, with Owen then approaching the driver's side, while Steve moved to the passenger door.

"The driver wasn't cooperating," said Owen, adding: "Steve was trying to open the passenger side. 

Reverse

“I went up to the driver's door and opened the door through the window, but before I got the chance to turn the engine off and take the keys out of the ignition, the driver put the vehicle in reverse and reversed at speed.

“At that point, I just saw Steve disappear."

Owen jumped into the door and clung to the top of the car.

Steve described how he had no choice but to desperately grab the handle as the car reversed around ten metres.

"I grabbed onto the handle and just held on, hoping he'd stop. If I let go, I would've gone straight under the wheel. I was dragged about ten metres," he explained.

"I couldn't have held on much longer - five more metres, and things would have been very different."

The vehicle eventually crashed, and Owen managed to enter the car and turn off the engine, though the driver attempted to accelerate again.

Owen then deployed PAVA spray, and Steve reappeared to help pull the suspect from the vehicle.

"He eventually gave up," said Owen, who explained that drugs were found in the vehicle.

By some miracle, both officers came away with minor physical injuries. Steve was left with bruised ribs, grazes to his knees and lasting scars.

Drugs

But the emotional toll extended beyond physical injuries.

"Of course, it's impacted our families too. I had to explain to my two young daughters what had happened - they saw the ripped trousers, the sore ribs, and they can't help but worry about Dad going out to work now. Every shift I'm on, they fear the hospital calling home again," said Steve.

Owen reflected on how the incident has changed his mindset on patrol.

"It won't put me off the job," he said, adding: "But I'm definitely more nervous now. I think about risks more. Am I by myself? Is this going to repeat what happened last time? It's changed the way I work."

Under current legislation, assaulting an emergency worker can carry a sentence of up to five years.

However, the driver was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with all offences absorbed into one. Just 17 weeks of that were for ABH against the officers.

While he was ordered to pay court fees, no compensation was awarded to either police officer.

Both Owen and Steve said they feel the court system has let police down.

"I can't help but feel like we're at the bottom of the agenda when we should be at the top," said Steve, whose phone was completely destroyed in the incident.

Compensation

"The impact this has had on us has been completely forgotten about."

Owen added: "I believe the driver intended to harm us. It makes me question: had we not been police officers but just members of the public, would the sentence have been the same?

"Even rewarding compensation would have been something. But no, nothing."

Despite their frustration with the judicial outcome, the officers praised their immediate supervisors and the Police Federation for their swift support. Through group insurance, the cost of a damaged phone was covered.

"Matt Paisley [vice chair of Suffolk Police Federation], who manages us, has been brilliant," Steve said. "He messaged within five minutes. You couldn't ask for better support."

Owen added: “And we must highlight the support we received from our sergeant, Oliver (Olly) Williams. The people around us have been brilliant.”

Both officers have since returned to duty.

"As police officers, you just get on with it," Steve said.

Owen ended: "But we know, things could have been so different. We were lucky. It could have been so much worse."

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