Officer Justin Walter said Thomas drove his Ford Explorer at him, and he shot at the vehicle to protect himself.
Darryl ThomasSPRINGFIELD – A city man, shot in the arm by police in the South End late Friday afternoon, is being held in lieu of $75,000 after pleading not guilty to a host of charges including armed assault with intent to murder.
Darryl Thomas, 48, was arraigned late Monday in District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to five felonies and four misdemeanors. The felonies also include three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (his car) and failure to register as a sex offender.
The incident happened in the middle of the post-tornado and heavily patrolled South End.
According to a police report in court records filed by Officer Justin Walter, both he and Officer Eric Blair fired their service weapons at Thomas when Thomas drove his vehicle at Walter.
A request for information on the work status of Walter and Blair was not answered Tuesday afternoon by Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet’s office.
Thomas fled a parking lot, and when he was stopped by other officers he had a gunshot wound to his left hand and arm, the report said.
It said a passenger in Thomas’ car, Pamela Jamison, received a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Both were taken to Baystate Medical Center for treatment of the wounds, which were not life-threatening, the report said.
Walter said a woman at Union and Willow Streets ran toward the cruiser he and Blair were in and said she was attacked by a man who “was trying to put his hands on her.” She pointed out a car she said was driven by the man.
The officers chased Thomas’ vehicle and when it got to a parking lot on Dale Street, Walter got out of the cruiser and walked toward the Ford Explorer.
Walter said, “Once I rounded the front of the cruiser, Mr. Thomas began to drive forward, mashing the accelerator and aiming his vehicle in my direction. “
He said in fear of being struck he fired three to five rounds in the direction of Thomas and Blair fired two to three rounds towards Thomas.
Springfield Police Department Arrest Report: Darryl Thomas