PHOENIX — A Phoenix man was convicted last week of assaulting a federal officer after he dragged a Border Patrol agent with his vehicle in southern Arizona.
Michael Witt, 55, was recently found guilty of assault and smuggling charges following a three-day trial in Arizona, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Arizona.
In February 2023, a Border Patrol agent stopped Witt in Santa Cruz County on suspicion of transporting undocumented migrants. When the driver declined to turn off his engine upon command, the agent attempted to turn off the vehicle by reaching into the car window.
Witt then began to accelerate the vehicle with the agent still hanging from the car window. The agent was dragged alongside the car as it veered into the oncoming lane of traffic, officials said.
The agent was eventually able switch off the engine and bring the vehicle to a stop. Two undocumented individuals were found in the backseat of Witt's car.
Witt is scheduled to be sentenced in court on Oct. 8.
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