Police: San Mateo woman stole alcohol, dragged cop with her car

A woman who allegedly dragged a police officer with her car in San Mateo was captured on a store’s security cameras, police said. A woman who allegedly dragged a police officer with her car in San Mateo was captured on a store’s security cameras, police said. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Police: San Mateo woman stole alcohol, dragged cop with her car 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

San Mateo police are searching for a woman who dragged an officer with her car Thursday and then sped away, officials said.

The officer initially approached the woman as she was loading stolen alcohol into her car outside a shopping center, according to the San Mateo Police Department.

The officer was passing by the Woodlake Shopping Center on North Delaware Street and Peninsula Avenue when he noticed a Safeway employee running from the store and gesticulating at the woman, who was transferring the pilfered alcohol from a shopping cart into her car, police said.

The officer spoke with the woman once she was in the driver’s seat of the maroon four-door Honda Accord, and she told him the receipt for the alcohol was in her trunk, according to police.

The woman then started her car, prompting the officer to grab her and tell her to turn off her vehicle, police reported.

But rather than turn off the car, the woman reversed “at full acceleration,” dragging the officer about 35 feet before he let go and fell to the ground, sustaining minor injuries, police said in a statement.

The woman then drove south on South Delaware Street and remains at large, police said.

Investigators are asking the public’s help in identifying her. They estimate she is 40 years old, 5 foot 6 inches to 5 foot 8 inches tall, between 150 and 160 pounds, with a lower back tattoo.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the San Mateo Police Department at (650)-522-7650.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi