Published: June 09, 2009 06:34 pm      

Deputy shoots at suspect

A 26-year-old Oakwood man was arrested on multiple charges early Tuesday morning after authorities say he almost struck an office’s vehicle as he fled the scene before wrecking his car.

As of shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Gregory Westmoreland, 26, of Oakwood was being held in the Anderson County Jail on local charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer; evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle; evading arrest or detention; and resisting arrest, search or transport, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

Westmoreland also had an assault — family violence charge out of Freestone County ($2,500 bond) and a terroristic threat charge out of Leon County ($2,000 bond), bringing the total amount of his bonds to $114,500.

After officers arrived at a location north of Palestine near the intersection of FM 320 and CR 420 on a report of a suspicious vehicle shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, Taylor said Westmoreland got in a 2005 Nissan Maxima and drove off, narrowly missing a sheriff’s squad car operated by deputy Justin Rackley who had just arrived at the scene.

Sheriff’s deputy Chris Crowley then fired multiple shots, striking Westmoreland’s vehicle a total of four times, according to Taylor. The suspect, however, was not hit, the sheriff stated.

Taylor said he believed Crowley fired a total of six shots.

“We are investigating the shooting which is standard procedure,” the sheriff stated.

The sheriff’s internal affairs division will conduct the investigation.

Crowley has been placed on three days administrative leave which is also standard policy in such an incident, Taylor said.

When asked if he felt the officer acted properly, Taylor said the investigation into the shooting would determine that.

Authorities were initially contacted at 2:06 a.m. Tuesday concerning a suspicious vehicle in the area of FM 320 and CR 420, north of the Palestine city limits.

Crowley arrived first, finding a black 2005 Nissan Maxima parked in the middle of CR 420, approximately 3/4 mile north of FM 320, according to Taylor.

“A female flags down deputy Crowley and indicates a man who is also outside of the car had sexually assaulted her,” Taylor said.

Crowley was approaching the male subject — who was later identified as Westmoreland — when the person got in the vehicle and sped off, according to the sheriff.

“The guy (Westmoreland) takes off and nearly rams Rackley (vehicle),” Taylor said. “Shots were fired by Crowley at the vehicle. It was hit four times. Rackley turns his vehicle around and pursues the vehicle.

“The vehicle takes out a metal pipe fence and goes through a yard and hits another fence and stops,” the sheriff continued. “The guy gets out and runs. Rackley pursues him on foot, gets him stopped, a struggle ensues and he gets him in custody.”

The sheriff said Westmoreland, who was unarmed, wrecked his vehicle approximately 1/2 mile from the initial scene when he failed to negotiate a curve.

The airbags in Westmoreland’s vehicle deployed as a result of the wreck, with the Maxima receiving “severe” front end damage, according to Taylor.

Westmoreland was transported to the emergency room at Palestine Regional Medical Center where he was treated for a cut on his head possibly sustained when he wrecked his vehicle, according to the sheriff.

Authorities are investigating whether the 22-year-old female was sexually assaulted by Westmoreland.

The suspect has denied assaulting her, saying he had told her to get out of his vehicle after she refused to have consensual sex, according to authorities.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com