News

Driver charged with speeding, DWI, ramming cruiser

Boaz

By Bill Moss, Published: April 18, 2017

Deputies charged a 22-year-old man with driving while impaired, resisting an officer and fleeing to elude arrest after he sped away from the pursuing officers then rammed a cruiser, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said.

Sheriff's deputies on patrol on Sugarloaf Road at 3 p.m. Easter Sunday saw a driver operating a Toyota 4Runner a reckless manner. As the 4Runner approached the intersection of Howard Gap Road, it nearly struck a deputy’s vehicle head on. When the deputies attempted to stop the 4Runner, it sped away. Deputies pursued the vehicle at speeds as high as 75 mph until they reached the dead end of World’s Edge Road. The suspect, identified as Benjamin Boaz, of Piney Ridge Court, rammed a deputy’s patrol vehicle in a further attempt to flee, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Boaz was arrested and charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest, resisting a public officer, reckless driving, failing to stop for a red light/stop sign, driving left of center and driving while impaired. Boaz was jailed under a $12,500  bond.