Home News Crime & Punishment Paramedic Shawn Johnson Injured After Being Dragged By Car

Paramedic Shawn Johnson Injured After Being Dragged By Car

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It sounded like an ordinary call for paramedic Shawn Johnson. It turned into anything but ordinary.

While responding to treat a man in a still running car Saturday morning at the Slippery Rock Plaza parking lot, Johnson found himself being dragged as the man tried to drive away.

The 46-year-old paramedic with Slippery Rock EMS managed to stop the car and spare anyone — except himself — of injury.

Dakota J. Hinchberger, 25
Dakota J. Hinchberger, 25

State police arrested the driver, Dakota J. Hinchberger, 25, of Muddy Creek Township, on felony assault and other charges.

Police said they found a large number of stamp bags of suspected heroin and other empty bags in the car.

Hinchberger is in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail.

Slippery Rock EMS was called shortly before noon for a man in a vehicle suffering from an undisclosed medical condition, authorities said. Johnson was part of the two-man crew that took the call.

He was at the driver’s door and reached inside to stop the car and take the keys. But Hinchberger, who was in the driver’s seat, suddenly put the car in drive, police said, and attempted to drive away.

“I was part in the car and part out of the car,” Johnson said Monday.

His crew partner activated his own emergency button, which is a police call for immediate help.

Johnson’s instincts kicked in as he found himself in the harrowing situation.

“I was mission focused,” he said. “It’s a busy parking lot. I was 100 percent committed to stopping the vehicle, for everyone’s safety.”

He was dragged 7 to 10 feet, police said, before he accomplished his mission. He got the car stopped and took the keys.

“This happened in seconds,” Johnson said, “and it was over.”

He was eventually taken to Butler Memorial Hospital where he was treated for lower back muscle strain and released.

Slippery Rock University police were first on scene, followed by state police.

A trooper described Hinchberger as “shaking, stuttering and making very sudden movements” as he got out of the car, according to court documents.

Police said the defendant’s face, neck and hands were covered in “open sores” and “scabs.”

On the front seat, documents said, the officer spotted two crack pipes and a loaded syringe, and in the driver’s door was what appeared to be a “large sum of stamp bags containing suspected heroin” in a plastic bag.

On the driver’s floor, also in plain view, were empty stamp bags.

A “small bundle” of suspected heroin, police said, was found in Hinchberger’s hooded sweatshirt and a large sum of cash and more empty stamp bags were found in a pants pocket.

The suspect was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for evaluation before he was eventually arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment and harassment.

The 2003 Taurus Hinchberger was driving was towed to the barracks in Butler Township. Police on Monday obtained a search warrant for the car.

Police said drug charges would be added to the defendant’s criminal complaint upon completion of the search.

Johnson, meanwhile, returned to work Monday. The New Castle area man has been a paramedic for 24 years and has worked for Slippery Rock EMS since 2015.

Doreen Taggart, who oversees the ambulance service as medical officer of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team, praised Johnson for his extraordinary effort Saturday.

“He was heroic. He kept himself, his partner, the other people and the patient all safe,” Taggart said.