A Concord police officer suffered minor injuries Wednesday night when he tackled a man who attempted to flee and avoid arrest in a domestic violence case, authorities said.
Officer Ben Mitchell fell to the pavement, landing on his knees and elbows when he grabbed a hold of Matthew Reagan’s shirt to end a brief foot pursuit on Loudon Road, Concord police Lt. Sean Ford said Thursday. Mitchell had tried to take Reagan’s right wrist to place him in handcuffs, but Reagan quickly turned his body and took off running when police confronted him about a reported assault, Ford said.
Reagan, 35, of Tilton is accused of pushing his girlfriend into a vehicle in the Concord Walmart parking lot during an argument in which she said she wanted to break up. Witnesses provided police with a description of the vehicle, which officers pulled over a short distance from the retail store.
At first, Reagan refused to cooperate with Mitchell and provided a false name, Ford said. Mitchell repeatedly asked Reagan to put his hands behind his back, but instead Reagan ran.
Mitchell was able to catch up to Reagan on a hillside near Aspen Dental on Loudon Road.
Reagan, who was held on $1,500 bail following his arrest, faces misdemeanor charges of simple assault, domestic violence and resisting arrest.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Concord district’s court Thursday morning.
(Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319, adandrea@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @_ADandrea.)