A man will spend 10 years in prison for dragging a Dunwoody police officer down I-285 after a traffic stop in 2019, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Derric Alexander Simpson, 40, pleaded guilty Monday to several charges, including aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.
On Aug. 1, 2019, Simpson was pulled over after Dunwoody Officer Nathan Daley saw him holding a cellphone while driving, prosecutors said. Daley and Officer Kasey Martin stopped Simpson on Ashford Dunwoody Road near the entrance ramp to I-285, smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked for consent to search it, officials said.
That’s when Simpson started to put his Chevrolet Malibu into gear to drive away. Daley, who was at the driver’s-side window, reached inside to grab the keys, prosecutors said. As he did, Simpson took off onto the interstate entrance ramp with Daley hanging out of the car window.
Credit: TOM Hughes
Credit: TOM Hughes
Dramatic video released by the department showed Daley halfway hanging out of the vehicle as Simpson sped onto I-285 before hitting a white Ford van, which flung Daley onto the pavement amid heavy traffic. The video was shared widely across the country at the time.
Fortunately, “the van driver was able to slam on his brakes to avoid running over Officer Daley,” prosecutors said in a statement Tuesday.
Simpson, however, continued driving at high speeds, reaching more than 100 mph, the DA’s office said. Other officers pursued him for nearly 2 miles before he crashed into five cars and hit a side wall. He then got out and ran away until officers caught up and arrested him.
When they searched Simpson‘s car, they found several controlled substances, a large amount of cash, a scale and a gun.
Daley suffered several injuries, including road rash, a severed ligament and a gash above his left eye. He was taken to Northside Hospital and was released a short time later.
The department was inundated with support in the form of sweet treats after Daley downplayed his obvious wounds in another video and jokingly said he would “accept donations in the form of sweets, cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes with sprinkles, vanilla or red velvet.”
On Monday, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Nora Polk sentenced Simpson to a total of 25 years. After the 10 years he is to serve in prison, he will serve the remainder on probation. Due to his criminal record, Simpson will not be eligible for early parole, the DA’s office noted.
In addition to the aggravated assault charge, Simpson pleaded guilty to two counts each of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, interference with government property, distracted driving and several drug offenses.
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