By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AN ICE addict dragged along a police officer for several metres as he drove off from a police intercept in Beaconsfield.
On Monday, Michael James Nagy, of Langwarrin, pleaded guilty to reckless conduct, failing to comply with a police officer’s lawful directions and possession of ice over the incident in front of Haileybury College late on 16 January.
After being pulled over, police observed a plastic bag of ice on the centre console, police prosecutor Senior Constable Fiona Davis told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
She said Nagy allegedly wound down his window and blankly stared ahead as he was spoken to by a police officer.
Suddenly the accused drove off, over a nature strip and several plastic roadside palings.
In the action, the officer’s shoulder was struck by the car’s driver-side pillar; his hand caught up inside the car as he was dragged along.
The officer was later treated for shoulder, wrist and finger injuries at Casey Hospital, the court was told.
The vehicle was found by police the next day in a fast-food outlet car park. Inside the car were two plastic bags of ice and two shotgun cartridges.
Nagy also pleaded guilty to drug-driving while ice was in his system in Hallam in December, and for possessing a machete in his car in Narre Warren in April.
Nagy told the court he stopped drinking and started an ice habit after his divorce three years ago.
He had since gone “cold turkey” from drugs.
“This is one of the biggest down-points of my life.
“That (drive-off) incident woke me up to an extent.
“I realised I’ve done stupid things. My life has turned 180 degrees around.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Nagy was “very lucky” he had not killed the police officer.
He sentenced Nagy to a 12-month community corrections order, including supervision, drug testing, mental health treatment and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Nagy was disqualified from driving for six months.
