A Smithville Police Officer was slightly injured Thursday night when a vehicle struck him while he was answering a complaint at Center Hill Village Apartments.
Sergeant Steve Deffendoll suffered slight trauma to his right knee area.
Police made an arrest in the case Friday morning. 29 year old Darryl Cantrell of 3659 Allen Bend Road, Smithville was arrested by Officers of the Smithville Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department at 11:20 a.m.. Police say Cantrell was driving the same vehicle he had fled in Thursday night. Cantrell has been charged with aggravated assault.
According to a news release by Thomas J. Stufano, Executive Officer of the Smithville Police Department, ” On Thursday at approximately 10:30 p.m., Officers William Elliott and Sergeant Deffendoll responded to Center Hill Village Apartments, located at 1222 South College Street for a reported suspicious vehicle complainant.”
“Upon arrival to the scene, the officers made contact with the vehicle which had two male subjects sitting in the vehicle. As the officers approached the front and side of the vehicle, they identified themselves as police officers and advised the occupants to keep their hands in plain sight.”
“The driver then started the vehicle and backed it up at an accelerated rate striking Sergeant Deffendoll in the right leg. The officers again commanded the vehicle to stop. The driver accelerated the vehicle forward in the direct path of Sergeant Deffendoll.”
“Fearing for their safety, the officers drew their service weapons and two rounds were fired into the front of the vehicle. The vehicle then sped off. A search of the area by Smithville Police and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office was made without further contact of the subjects.
Investigators on the scene were able to positively identify the driver and a warrant was issued for Cantrell’s arrest.
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