Maryland: Man almost strikes officer with vehicle in Annapolis pursuit
Annapolis police said a man almost struck an officer with a vehicle during a pursuit Wednesday afternoon. Devonte Simms, 22, of Parole Street, has been charged with nine counts including first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and destruction of property. As of Thursday morning Simms was being held at Jennifer Road Detention Center in Parole on a $100,000 bond, according to online court records.
A bail review hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Simms also has been charged with multiple traffic-related offenses.
Police responded to a domestic-related incident involving Simms and the mother of his children in the first block of Bens Drive, in the Bayridge Gardens community, around 3:19 p.m. The woman told police that she and Simms had been in a verbal argument that turned physical. She told police that Simms attempted to strike her with his vehicle and a baseball bat.
The 22-year-old also picked up the couple's infant child while still strapped in a car seat and threw the infant and car seat to the ground, the woman told police.
Simms had left the scene prior to officers' arrival. However, other officers subsequently saw Simms' vehicle on Forest Drive and attempted to stop it, police said. Simms failed to stop and began driving erratically. The other officers did not follow the vehicle at that time.
While officers were still speaking with the woman on Bens Drive, they saw Simms' vehicle speed through the community and crash through a fence separating Bens Drive and Victor Parkway, police said.
The vehicle proceeded down Cypress Road where another officer saw the vehicle and attempted to approach it on foot. That's when Simms accelerated toward the officer almost striking him, police said.
Simms fled down Forest Drive and abandoned the vehicle in the city's Newtowne 20 community. City and county police, as well as county Sheriff's deputies searched the area, but were unable to find Simms.
Simms later turned himself in at Annapolis police headquarters on Taylor Avenue, police said.
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