DARLINGTON, SC (WBTW) – Darlington Police arrested a Lumberton, NC man after the suspect trapped an officer inside his car window and led police on a car chase into Marlboro County.
Chief Danny Watson with Darlington Police says officers were dispatched to the Public Square Tuesday around 6 p.m. in reference to a suspicious vehicle that was illegally parked. When the officer approached the car to speak to driver, the driver at first refused to open his window but did eventually comply, Chief Watson adds.
The officer could see Marijuana sitting in the suspect’s lap. The man, identified by police as Brandon Terrell Powell, of Lumberton, also smelled like alcohol, according to the officer. Police attempted to get Powell out of the vehicle, and during the struggle an officer was trapped inside the window of the car, but managed to get free before the car sped away. The officer received bruises and scrapes during the incident, Chief Watson says.
As the suspect sped away, he did make contact with two officers with his vehicle, Chief Watson confirms. Darlington County Sheriff’s Office deputies as well as South Carolina Highway Patrol assisted in the chase, which ended with Powell crashing into a tree in Marlboro County.
Powell is charged with simple possession of marijuana, DUI, failure to stop for a blue light, three counts of aggravated assault and parking in front of a fire hydrant.
Following the chase, Chief Watson posted the following statement on the police department’s Facebook page:
The individual who is charged was facing very minor misdemeanor charges that would have most likely resulted in a fine or fines. Whether it was because of the influence of intoxicating substances or a complete disregard for those around him, I do not know, however he turned a situation of a few minor charges into several serious felonies. In the end we are just grateful for the assistance of our law enforcement partners and thank God no one was killed or seriously injured as this suspect could certainly have injured or killed multiple people. We are reluctant to be involved in car chases except in extreme circumstances involving serious felonies. I certainly believe that this would rise to the occasion of a reasonable chase. There is little doubt that considering the circumstances and the actions taken by this perpetrator, if he had been allowed to continue in his condition while driving this vehicle it only would have been a matter of time before he eventually seriously hurt or killed someone. As I stated before, thank God it did not work out that way.
