Henry County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a white Nissan Sentra in the parking lot of Eden Jewelry, located at 1131 Memorial Blvd., Martinsville, around 9:33 p.m. on Sunday, October 12.
The vehicle matched the description of a suspect vehicle involved in a larceny reported earlier the same evening at the Dollar General located at 25 Jack Dalton Road, Martinsville.
Upon approaching the vehicle, deputies identified the driver as Darris Simmons, 37, who matched the suspect’s description and clothing from store surveillance footage. Deputies issued multiple commands for Simmons to exit the vehicle, which he allegedly refused. When deputies attempted to unlock the door, Simmons grabbed the deputy’s hand to prevent them from opening the vehicle’s door. He then placed the vehicle into drive and fled the traffic stop.
Deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit along Memorial Blvd. The pursuit continued down Memorial Blvd, through Fayette St, to the Fieldale community. When the pursuit got to the intersection of Carver Road and Farmview Dr., deputies successfully executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver.
The suspect vehicle left the roadway, struck a small embankment, and rolled onto its side. The driver was taken into custody without further incident.
Henry County Public Safety responded to the scene, but Simmons declined medical treatment.
He was transported to the Henry County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with assault on law enforcement, obstruction of justice, felony eluding police, reckless driving by speed, operating vehicle without headlights, passing on a double yellow line, failure to drive on the right side of the roadway, failure to wear seatbelt, failure to stop at stop sign and shoplifting.
Currently, Simmons is being held without bond.
