A Commerce man parlayed a speeding charge into a host of other offenses — including felony aggravated assault — when he both sideswiped and rammed a police car during a chase last week.
Steven Jason Picard, 32, faces the aggravated assault charge, along with charges of criminal interference with government property, driving with a suspended license, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving and speeding — 90 mph in a 55 zone.
According to the incident report, an officer clocked Picard doing 90 northbound on U.S. 441 and gave chase. He caught up with the vehicle at Steve Reynolds Industrial Boulevard, but the vehicle continued into Banks County, disregarding the officer’s blue lights and siren.
At Banks Crossing, the vehicle pulled into the parking lot by the former Shuler’s Outdoors and slowed as if to stop, according to the officer. Then it sped up and headed south in the parking lot. The officer tried to cut in front of the vehicle, which sideswiped the officer’s car before going back onto U.S. 441 headed south.
Picard continued south at 55-60 miles per hour, the officer said. The officer again tried to get in front of Picard to force him to stop, but the suspect again sideswiped the police vehicle. Seeing multiple Banks County units joining the chase, the officer finally managed to pass Picard, who then rammed the police car in the rear, according to the officer’s report.
With the help of the Banks County deputies, the officer was able to pull Picard over. The officer ordered him out of his car, but he refused, so the officer used his baton to break a window, reached in, unlocked, the door, pulled Picard out, put him on the ground and handcuffed him.
According to the officer, Picard admitted consuming two beers — but he blew a .214 on the alcosensor, well over double the blood/alcohol ratio required for a drunk driving conviction.
The officer summoned the Georgia State Patrol to investigate the “accident” in which Picard rammed the vehicle. The report indicated that the GSP planned to file DUI charges in the case.
