Suspect eludes deputies Thursday after high speed chase, deputy dragged

Richland County authorities have issued an alert for Christopher Doctor, wanted on federal charges and locally for burglary, larceny, possessing a stolen vehicle, and now attempted murder.

A sheriff’s deputy tried to pull Doctor over for a traffic stop while responding to a report of erratic driving on Ballenton Road in northeast Richland County on Thursday around noon, Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release.

Doctor allegedly fled at a high rate of speed, driving over private yards and crashing his gold Ford Ranger through fences.

He stopped briefly on Hardscrabble Road off North Brickyard Road long enough for a deputy to approach and reach in the window in an attempt to turn off the ignition, Lott said. But Doctor took off again, dragging the deputy a few yards before he broke free. The deputy was not injured, Lott said.

Lott said Doctor already was wanted on three warrants for burglary, larceny, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He said Doctor was also wanted by the United Stated Marshal’s Office and has a lengthy criminal history.

Anyone with information about Doctor’s whereabouts is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC, text CRIMES (274637) and mark the beginning of the message with “TIPSC” followed by the tip information, or log onto www.midlandscrimestoppers.com and click on the red “Submit a tip” tab.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 9:11 PM with the headline "Suspect eludes deputies Thursday after high speed chase, deputy dragged."