A Tennessee man is facing his third DUI charge after police say he nearly hit an officer before crashing his pickup truck into two marked patrol SUVs with their emergency lights activated.
According to a release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the crash happened Tuesday night on Neelys Bend Road. The officers weren’t conducting a traffic stop. They were there for an unrelated report of a person in the roadway.
Police say 53-year-old James Rose drove toward the two parked SUVs, struck both of them, and then continued down the road. Neither officer was injured. Rose’s pickup didn’t make it much farther.
Police later found the truck wrecked and abandoned, but Rose was no longer inside.
Officers Were Already on the Scene
Officers Michael Allen and Jordan Schaffer responded to Neelys Bend Road near Randy Road around 10 p.m. Both had parked their marked police SUVs on the side of the road with their emergency blue lights activated while they handled the call.
Police said Rose approached eastbound in a Dodge Ram pickup and swerved toward the patrol vehicles, nearly striking Allen before crashing into both SUVs. Neither officer was injured.
The Pickup Didn’t Get Far
Rose continued driving after the crash, according to MNPD. Officers later found his Dodge Ram wrecked and abandoned near the intersection of Neelys Bend Road and Evergreen Trail.
They then spotted Rose running into a nearby tree line. Canine Officer Tommy Smith and his K9 partner, Talon, responded to the area and tracked Rose through the tree line.
Police said Rose was taken into custody.
Police Said Rose Had Been Drinking
After his arrest, officers reported several signs of intoxication. MNPD said Rose had slurred speech, was unsteady on his feet, and smelled of alcohol. Police also said Rose admitted that he had been drinking that night.
The department did not provide a blood alcohol concentration in its release or say whether Rose underwent a breath or blood test.
Rose Is Facing Multiple Charges
Rose was charged with third-offense DUI, two counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, evading arrest, leaving the scene of a crash, and driving on a revoked license. MNPD said Rose remained in custody on a $48,000 bond following his arrest.
The charges against Rose are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.