Most people get a little nervous when they see those blue lights in their rearview mirror and get pulled over by law enforcement.
But the key is to remain calm, just do what the officer says and don’t have a complete freakout. Because if you do, what might have been a warning could turn into some jail time.
Such is the case with Derek Damon Hand, 37, who was pulled over late Tuesday on Pratt Street off West Washington Street in Newnan, for having a tag light out.
“He was acting really nervous and wouldn’t answer the deputy’s questions,” said Major Jimmy Yarbrough with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy told Hand to turn off his engine, took his license and went back to his car to run a routine check, the major said. However, Hand refused to turn off his car and started revving the engine.
The deputy returned to Hand’s car and again told him to turn off the engine. Instead, Hand started to drive off. That resulted in the officer deploying his taser stun weapon on Hand.
Hand drove about a block before hitting a parked car and then jumped out and tried to run off, Yarbrough said, adding Hand was quickly captured.
“We asked him why he ran and he said he thought he had a warrant out on him,” the major said. “He didn’t have a warrant out, his license checked out. He probably would have just gotten a warning but he decided to run. Now he’s got all kinds of charges.”
So instead of getting a warning for a broken taillight, Hand was taken to jail.
And he’s charged with multiple counts, including obstruction, no taillights, fleeing/ attempting to elude, reckless driving and leaving scene of accident, according to Coweta County Jail records.
