Antioch cop recovering after he was dragged by suspects' car

Antioch police Sgt. Rick Moritz's tenacity and training were credited with saving his life as he was dragged by a vehicle toward oncoming traffic while trying to arrest a man early Monday, investigators said.

Arthur D. Bowman, 34, and Tanni V. Allen, 47, both of 3821 W. Adams St., Chicago, were charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest and retail theft. They were held Tuesday, each in lieu of $150,000 bond, in the Lake County jail in Waukegan.

Bowman and Allen have lengthy criminal histories, police said. Bowman, who most recently served prison time for a drug conviction, was released March 7 and placed on a one-year parole, according to state records.

Moritz, an 8-year Antioch police veteran, suffered abrasions to his knees and is recovering at home, Cmdr. James Ruth said. Moritz was treated at a Lake County hospital and released.

"I just attribute his tenacity and his training with saving his life," Ruth said Tuesday.

Authorities gave the following account of the altercation:

Allen and Bowman went to a Jewel-Osco store on Route 59 in Antioch about 11:50 p.m. Sunday and stole upscale liquor.

Unaware of what had occurred in the store, Moritz was patrolling Route 173 just east of Route 83 when he attempted to make a traffic stop on the silver Hyundai that Bowman was driving about 12:05 a.m. Monday. Moritz noticed the vehicle because it had only one working headlight.

Bowman was asked to exit the vehicle when he began acting suspiciously and didn't show his driver's license at Moritz's request. Bowman then attacked and struggled with Moritz as the officer tried to arrest him.

After breaking from the tussle, Bowman yelled to Allen to start the car. Moritz again tried to arrest Bowman, but Allen started maneuvering the car forward.

Both men struggled as Bowman tried slide behind the wheel of the moving car. Still held by Bowman, Moritz was dragged toward oncoming traffic and knocked to his knees.

Moritz fired a shot from his service pistol at the Hyundai, and Bowman released the officer and fled with Allen in the car before Antioch investigators and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force arrived at the scene.

After investigators sifted through combinations of a partial license plate number, Chicago police were led to Adams Street address where Bowman and Allen live about 4 a.m. Monday, Ruth said. Police found the men and the Hyundai, matching descriptions provided by Moritz.