Decatur man pleads guilty after injuring police officer during traffic stop

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston this week announced a conviction by guilty plea in the case against a Decatur man charged with injuring a police officer during a traffic stop in Dunwoody. 

 

On Monday, Jan. 27, Derric Alexander Simpson, 40, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to charges of Aggravated Assault Against a Law Enforcement Officer When Engaged in Official Duty; two counts of Aggravated Battery; Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer; Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance; two counts of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of Certain Felonies; Interference with Government Property; Sale, Distribution or Possession of Dangerous Drugs; Distracted Driving; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon stemming from an incident involving a Dunwoody Police Department officer on August 1, 2019. 

According to the investigation, two Dunwoody Police officers were patrolling Ashford Dunwoody Road when they noticed a driver, later identified as  Simpson, looking at his cell phone while behind the wheel in violation of Georgia’s hands-free law.  The officers pulled Simpson over on Ashford Dunwoody near the entrance ramp to I-285.  During the traffic stop, the officers smelled marijuana coming from Defendant Simpson’s car.  

 

Officer Nathan Daley askedSimpson about the smell and requested consent to search Simpson’s car.   Simpson put the car in gear to drive off and Officer Daley reached inside to grab the keys and turn the vehicle off.  As Officer Daley leaned into the car,  Simpson hit the gas and pulled onto the entrance ramp to I-285 with Officer Daley hanging out of the window. 

Simpson sped down the ramp and then went around other cars as they waited to enter the highway during a period of heavy traffic. Simpson swerved into another lane and sideswiped a white van, knocking Officer Daley out of the car and onto the pavement.  The van’s driver was able to slam on his brakes to avoid running over Officer Daley. 

Simpson continued driving down I-285 at speeds reaching more than 100 miles per hour (mph) leading the other officer on a chase for nearly two miles.  Simpson hit five other cars on the highway before crashing into the side wall and then running from the car.  Defendant Simpson was arrested after a short foot chase.  When officers searched his car, they found several controlled substances, a large amount of cash, a scale and a gun.  

 

Officer Daley suffered several injuries including road rash, a severed ligament, and a gash above his left eye.  He was transported to Northside Hospital for treatment. 

 

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Nora Polk presided over the hearing and heard from both sides before issuing a sentence.  The State requested that the Defendant serve 15 years in custody, while the Defense asked for 8 years.  Judge Polk ultimately sentenced Defendant Simpson to 25 years to serve 10 years in confinement with the balance on probation. Because of his prior criminal history, Defendant Simpson will not be eligible for early parole and must serve the entire 10 years in custody.  

 

The case, assigned to the Trial Division, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Ryan Patrick with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Thomas Williams, District Attorney Investigator Edwin Perkins and Victim Advocate Mariana Salgado.  Dunwoody Police Department Det. Gilbert led the initial investigation.