Garieon Simmons… Photo provided
Jessica Campos, 27, died after being struck by a suspect on the run after allegedly stealing a Cadillac Escalade from the Coffee County Funeral Chapel on Friday.
Family and friends of Campos say they believe the pursuit was unnecessary.
Garieon Simmons allegedly entered a residential area and almost struck two people in their vehicles. He’s later accused of nearly hitting a Manchester Police car head-on.
“He posed a danger as soon as he left the chapel heading down the wrong way,” Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said.
Sgt. Landon Pence of the Manchester Police Department said in his report that he swerved to the right and the stolen vehicle continued to drive erratic and swerved to come back on the proper side of the road.
Investigator Billy Marcom, a 32-year veteran with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, led the pursuit.
According to the sheriff’s department pursuit policy; a chase is justified when it poses the risk of loss of life, serious injury, major property damage or other emergency situations.
Reports indicate that Simmons led officers to Interstate 24 but was traveling on the wrong side of the road.
Reports also say that Manchester officers backed off once the chase entered Rutherford County.
Sheriff Graves said his deputies slowed down once losing sight of Simmons.
Graves says his deputies continued to travel while the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department took over the pursuit because the theft took place in Coffee County.
Authorities say Simmons could have possibly been on the run from Franklin County for an alleged armed robbery on Friday.
The Decherd man is facing several charges including the most serious, which is vehicular homicide. He is being held at the Rutherford County Jail.
