Man pleads not guilty to high-speed chase that left woman seriously injured
A Columbus man pleaded not guilty to charges in a high-speed police chase that left a woman seriously injured Monday on Macon Road .
Kenneth Bottoms, 32, faced three counts of aggravated assault including one count against a Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy, fleeing and attempting to elude police, interfering with government property and reckless driving in the 1:34 p.m. crash on Macon Road near Layfield Road. Recorder’s Court Judge Mary Buckner ordered Bottoms held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail on the assault charges and set bonds totaling more than $21,500 on traffic charges.
Police officer Shawn Harris said police were called to check on an accident with injuries after a green 1998 Chevy Blazer Bottoms was driving crashed and overturned several times while he was pursued by a sheriff’s deputy investigating a burglary. One of the two women passengers was hurled from the vehicle and another was pinned beneath the SUV. Police said one woman was still in critical condition at Midtown Medical Center in Columbus.
Deputy David Streetman attempted to stop the SUV on Highway 240 near Buena Vista after a burglary was reported in the area. Bottoms disregarded the deputy’s flashing lights as he attempted to elude the deputy.
The deputy continued to pursue the vehicle until reaching Macon Road in Talbot County where a second county deputy joined in the chase. The fleeing vehicle was westbound on Macon Road when the Talbot deputy and Streetman attempted to stop the SUV. Streetman was trying to get in front of the vehicle when it struck the left side of his police cruiser at an estimated speed of 80 to 90 mph.
The vehicle driven by Bottoms went out of control, crossed the median into the eastbound traffic lane and overturned several times. One woman was hurled from the vehicle and the other was pinned under the wreckage.
In a statement to officer Raymond Mills, the suspect said he was trying to block the deputy’s vehicle when he struck the cruiser. He also was aware that such a move at the high speed could cause serious injury or death in a crash.
Mills also noted that Bottoms didn’t appear to be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Represented by public defender Charles Lykins, Bottoms didn’t testify during the hearing.
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Man pleads not guilty to high-speed chase that left woman seriously injured."