Published: June 18, 2009 08:22 am      

Drunken driver collides twice with same deputy sheriff’s car

Times-Tribune Staff Report

Just after lunchtime Tuesday a Laurel County deputy sheriff faced a situation that included homemade booze and assault on his cruiser and himself.

Deputy Jason Back got involved in the situation at about 1:20 p.m. when he spotted a vehicle crossing into oncoming traffic on U.S. 25 north of London in the East Bernstadt area.

The driver of the vehicle began to run from Back when the deputy turned his lights on in an effort to stop him.

In the process of the chase, Back followed the driver, David Brannon, down Bentley Road north of East Bernstadt off U.S. 25.

According to reports the driver of the getaway car slowed as if he was going to stop several times, but pulled away quickly.

Charles Garland, a commercial vehicle enforcement officer, joined the chase and watched as the fleeing driver ran several cars off the road and eventually struck Back’s cruiser twice.

The car finally stopped at the dead end of the road.

When he approached the car, Back said, he saw the driver drinking out of a half-gallon milk jug.

The man reportedly told Back it was homemade wine and he was trying to finish it before he was taken to jail.

Back reported that Brannon was fighting him and Garland off as they tried to arrest him and Brannon had to be tazered in order that they take him into custody.

Brannon’s passenger, Arthur Bentley, was charged with resisting arrest and public intoxication. Brannon was charged with fleeing police, reckless driving, driving under the influence and assaulting an officer.