Sarantis Parissos ordered to stand trial over alleged hit-run of female police officer

A man charged over the hit-run of a police officer, who was allegedly dragged for several metres, has been ordered to stand trial.

A West Lakes man who allegedly reversed into a female police officer, dragging her under a stolen SUV for several metres before fleeing, has been ordered to face trial.

Sarantis Parissos, 39, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with four offences over the January 3, 2022, incident.

Mr Parissos, who appeared via video link without a lawyer, entered pleas of not guilty to charges of aggravated driving dangerously to escape a police pursuit, two counts of hinder or resist a police officer and in doing so cause harm and an aggravated charge of an act likely to cause harm.

Sarantis Parissos has pleaded not guilty to allegations he ran down a police officer, dragging her as he reversed, at Fulham Gardens in January 2022. Picture: Facebook

At the time of his arrest, police alleged they spotted Mr Parissos in a stolen black Range Rover SUV speeding along Sir Donald Bradman Drive, near Lockleys, about 4pm.

The PolAir helicopter tracked him the car through backstreets from above and directed patrols to Merlin Rd, Fulham Gardens.

Police will allege several police officers approached the car in an attempt to apprehend the driver, but the diver allegedly reversed and dragged the female officer for several metres before driving off.

Mr Parissos allegedly dumped the car near Grange Rd and ran off.

Police attempted to confront Mr Parissos, but he ran into the path of oncoming traffic and was struck by a car.

Mr Parissos was taken to hospital suffering non-life threatening injuries. The female police officer was also taken to hospital and expected to fully recover.

At his first scheduled court appearance in January, the court heard he was unable to appear because he was “still quite heavily medicated, still in a lot of pain and … still awaiting surgery”.

Mr Parissos is next scheduled to appear before the District Court in January.

Originally published as Sarantis Parissos ordered to stand trial over alleged hit-run of female police officer