Man shot by Baltimore police after dragging officer during traffic stop near downtown

A 29-year-old man was shot after dragging a police officer during a traffic stop on Wednesday evening near downtown Baltimore, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said.

The shooting happened around 9:15 p.m. in the 300 block of West Franklin Street.

Police said an officer stopped a vehicle for a suspended license plate tag and took the information back to the patrol car. When the officer returned with the information, Worley said the officer spotted what appeared to be a gun in the driver's waistband.

The driver, identified as Marquise Wells, told the officer it was a clip, and the officer then reached for it before the driver took off, dragging the officer with him, according to Worley.

The officer fired at least one shot that struck the driver, who then drove himself to the hospital, where he was treated, released and then taken into custody.

The officer suffered minor injuries, Worley said.

"This was an incident that could have been easily prevented had the suspect just cooperated with the officer," Worley said. "Thankfully, no one else was hurt."

Wells has been charged with first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and additional charges.  

Police are reviewing the officer's body camera video for more information about the incident.

"I don't think it had to get to that point"

Justin Webster said he and his co-workers had just left the office at Finray Solar when a Baltimore Police officer stopped Wells Wednesday night.

"The police, they do have systems in place to where they should be able to call reinforcement or something to where they don't have to get to that point," Webster said. "I don't know. I don't think it had to get to that point."  

Following the shooting, some said  it was wrong for the driver to drag the officer with a car. However, they argued there are other ways to de-escalate situations like this.

"I'm saying if your nephew was dragging you, you wouldn't shoot him," added Sean Walfall, with Finray Solar. "You would figure out a different way to solve that problem because you love…Cops need to start loving the community and start loving people so they can figure out a solution that's less violent."