Charlotte County deputy recovering after being dragged by vehicle; suspect remains in jail

UPDATE: Glen Alonzo Steele was transferred to the Charlotte County Jail on March 4. His new booking mug is below.

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Brad Combs, a Charlotte County deputy, is recovering from minor injuries after a man dragged him with his vehicle during a traffic stop early Thursday.

Meanwhile, Glen Alonzo Steele, 55, will remain in a Sarasota County jail cell until he is transported to Charlotte County for the crime. Steele has a hearing scheduled for March 3. A judge decided to hold Steele without bond during his first appearance hearing Friday.

Steele was jailed Thursday following a vehicle pursuit from Charlotte County where he was stopped by Combs. Steele tried to give Combs a fake name, but Combs found the man was driving with a suspended license, as well as cocaine, meth and pills in the car.

Steele fled in the vehicle after a struggle with Combs, dragging Combs for a distance.

“When you hear this happen, the phone starts ringing, the texts start going, guys that work for the department from years ago, go ‘is he OK? How’s Brad?'” said Robert Skidmore, a former Charlotte County commissioner who has known Combs for decades.

Emergency responders first believed Combs’ injuries were much worse.

Steele led deputies on a 6-mile chase that ended in Sarasota County at Bessemer Avenue and Florala Street, where he rolled his vehicle several times before landing on a canal bank. He was airlifted to a hospital, where he was treated following the crash, and then arrested.

In court on Friday, a public defender requested bail, but the judge denied the request.

“We want some justice for Brad and we want to make sure the individual who did this is taken to justice,” Skidmore said.

Combs, once a school resource officer, had recently been promoted, Skidmore said.

“He was excited to be back out on the road with new challenges but I don’t think anyone expected him to be dragged 50 feet,” Skidmore said.

In a message to WINK News Thursday evening, Combs thanked the community for the outpouring of support. He is resting, recovering, and spending time with family, he said.