NYC lawlessness caught on video as speeding BMW drags down armed cop through Times Square
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A routine traffic intervention turned dangerous in the heart of Manhattan early on Saturday, September 12, when a police officer was dragged to the ground by a moving SUV.
The incident unfolded as New York continues to face a series of high-profile public-safety incidents, including violent attacks in and around Times Square.
The latest episode was captured on video and left the officer injured, while the driver remained at large.
BMW driver drags NYPD officer away
The incident took place at around 3 am near West 46th Street and Seventh Avenue, according to the NYPD.
Police said officers were attempting to stop a 2020 BMW X3 that was traveling the wrong way down a one-way street.
As one officer approached, he grabbed the passenger-side door of the silver SUV. The driver then accelerated.
The BMW pulled away while the officer was still holding onto the vehicle, dragging him to the ground before speeding off.
Footage shared online shows the car disappearing from the scene as other officers rush toward their injured colleague.
Despite being thrown down, the officer managed to get back on his feet. He was taken to a local hospital with injuries to his shoulder and knee.
No arrests had been made as of the latest police update. The investigation remains active, and authorities are seeking information about the vehicle and its driver.
The video below shows the speeding BMW dragging the armed NYPD officer to the ground before fleeing the scene.
🚨Times Square NYC🚨
— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) September 12, 2026
Last night a NYPD officer from Times Square was dragged by a car during a traffic stop. It appears the officer had his gun out during the incident
The NYPD officer was thrown at least 10 feet after the car took off .
It's unclear if the cop was injured or… pic.twitter.com/ueTfzISJPR
Recent Times Square incidents raise concerns
The BMW incident comes shortly after a deadly attack in Times Square that placed public safety in one of New York’s busiest tourist districts under intense scrutiny.
On August 31, Pamela Cisneros allegedly approached strangers while carrying two knives and stabbed a 68-year-old man near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue.
She then continued along Seventh Avenue and fatally stabbed Erin Piacenti, the Bank of America vice president from New Jersey.
Police later confronted Cisneros near West 43rd Street.
Authorities said officers spent several minutes ordering her to drop the knives before using Tasers. When she advanced toward them while still holding the weapons, two officers opened fire.
Cisneros died at a hospital.
The incidents have emerged during Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s tenure, even as official figures have pointed to a larger decline in serious crime.
Major crime was reported to be down nearly 6% citywide compared with the same period the previous year.
Those figures, however, do not erase the impact of individual attacks that continue to take place in highly visible public spaces in NYC.