Two men accused of assaulting a Florence police officer had been on the run since Saturday, but not anymore. Now, the men are in the Lauderdale County Detention Center.
Lewand Jamarius Beckwith, 21, and Vincent Lewis Freeman, 23, turned themselves in at the Florence Police Department on Monday morning. Both men are facing a felony charge of second-degree assault.
WHNT News 19 is the only station with the dash camera video showing how the incident unfolded.
On Saturday, October 24th, at approximately 3:15 p.m., video from Florence Police Officer Luke McIntyre's patrol car shows him riding through Hermitage Oaks Apartments on Hermitage Drive and passing a car. Beckwith is behind the wheel and Freeman is in the passenger seat. Investigator Monty Merryman says McIntyre turned around to go back when he recognized Freeman.
"At the time, McIntyre was under the impression that one the passenger had a warrant on him," says Merryman.
As it turns out, Freeman didn't have an outstanding warrant, but McIntyre picked up on something else while he was speaking with the men.
"When I walked up to the car, I though I could smell marijuana in your car," says McIntyre to Beckwith on the video. "Do you know if anybody had some in your car recently?"
After inquiring about the marijuana, the video shows McIntyre asking Beckwith for permission to search the car.
"Do you have a problem if I take a look?", asks McIntyre.
Beckwith appears to agree to the search, but then things take a turn.
"Why don't I get you to go ahead and turn your car off for me," requests McIntyre.
Instead of shutting off the ignition, police say Beckwith punched the gas, with Mcintyre's pants and gun belt snagged on the door frame. After McIntyre takes a hard fall on the pavement, he quickly gathers himself and runs after Beckwith and Freeman. Two other officers follow suit, but the men still managed to get away. Merryman says the video was tough to watch.
"It bothers you to see video like that where you see a police officer get hurt," says Merryman. "It's impossible not to put yourself in that situation."
On Monday, as Merryman took Beckwith and Freeman to jail, he couldn't help but think about his colleague and how lucky he is to be alive.
"The tire could have easily run over his head or his legs," says Merryman. "When he hit the ground, he's very lucky he didn't strike his head on the pavement."
Even though he was a passenger, Merryman says Freeman is also being charged because he ran from police and didn't make any attempts to help the officer.
McIntyre was treated at ECM Hospital on Saturday after the incident and was released. He returned to work on Monday.
Lewand Jamarius Beckwith, 21, and Vincent Lewis Freeman, 23, turned themselves in at the Florence Police Department on Monday morning. Both men are facing a felony charge of second-degree assault.
WHNT News 19 is the only station with the dash camera video showing how the incident unfolded.
On Saturday, October 24th, at approximately 3:15 p.m., video from Florence Police Officer Luke McIntyre's patrol car shows him riding through Hermitage Oaks Apartments on Hermitage Drive and passing a car. Beckwith is behind the wheel and Freeman is in the passenger seat. Investigator Monty Merryman says McIntyre turned around to go back when he recognized Freeman.
"At the time, McIntyre was under the impression that one the passenger had a warrant on him," says Merryman.
As it turns out, Freeman didn't have an outstanding warrant, but McIntyre picked up on something else while he was speaking with the men.
"When I walked up to the car, I though I could smell marijuana in your car," says McIntyre to Beckwith on the video. "Do you know if anybody had some in your car recently?"
After inquiring about the marijuana, the video shows McIntyre asking Beckwith for permission to search the car.
"Do you have a problem if I take a look?", asks McIntyre.
Beckwith appears to agree to the search, but then things take a turn.
"Why don't I get you to go ahead and turn your car off for me," requests McIntyre.
Instead of shutting off the ignition, police say Beckwith punched the gas, with Mcintyre's pants and gun belt snagged on the door frame. After McIntyre takes a hard fall on the pavement, he quickly gathers himself and runs after Beckwith and Freeman. Two other officers follow suit, but the men still managed to get away. Merryman says the video was tough to watch.
"It bothers you to see video like that where you see a police officer get hurt," says Merryman. "It's impossible not to put yourself in that situation."
On Monday, as Merryman took Beckwith and Freeman to jail, he couldn't help but think about his colleague and how lucky he is to be alive.
"The tire could have easily run over his head or his legs," says Merryman. "When he hit the ground, he's very lucky he didn't strike his head on the pavement."
Even though he was a passenger, Merryman says Freeman is also being charged because he ran from police and didn't make any attempts to help the officer.
McIntyre was treated at ECM Hospital on Saturday after the incident and was released. He returned to work on Monday.
