Police officer dragged by car while pursuing suspects

One man has been charged with attempted murder after a Romeoville police officer was dragged by a car as Thanksgiving shoplifting suspects fled.

Authorities Friday identified a passenger as 51-year-old Robert Russell. The Joliet man is charged with attempted murder. The driver remained hospitalized and hasn’t been charged.

Romeoville police say the officer injured his shoulder but has been released from the hospital.

As a patrol approached the Kohl’s store Thursday, Russell ran and jumped into the car, then closed the door on the officer while the driver drove off, authorities said. Another officer shot the driver in the arm.

A third man arrested in the store, 28-year-old Gerald Chamberlain of Joliet, is charged with felony theft.