Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 23, 1994 TAG: 9403230095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Donald W. Hall II, 24, of Troutville received the sentence in Roanoke Circuit Court after pleading no contest to a charge of unlawful wounding.
Officer B.C. Booth suffered cuts, bruises and a broken leg when he tried to keep Hall from driving away from a downtown restaurant, Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony said.
Anthony gave the following account:
The Dec. 5, 1992, incident started late at night at the Texas Tavern, where Hall and a friend became loud and abusive during a dispute over how many crackers should be served with their chili.
Booth was called to the scene and was preparing to arrest Hall on a drunk-in-public charge when Hall fled.
After a foot chase, Hall jumped into his car and tried to drive away. Booth leaned into the driver's-side window in an effort to turn the ignition off.
Booth, whose upper body was inside the car, caught his arm behind the seat as Hall drove away.
Hall drove west on Church Avenue, turned north on Second Street and crossed the railroad tracks, with Booth halfway inside and trying to run alongside the car.
The car, which was going 35 to 45 mph, then struck a chain-link fence and overturned.
Hall maintained that he lost control of the car because Booth was wrestling him for the steering wheel, defense attorney Ellen Kuo said.
Witnesses testified that since Hall has been incarcerated in the Roanoke City Jail, he has found religion and been baptized.
Anthony had asked Judge Clifford Weckstein to impose the maximum sentence of five years in prison.
"Certainly Officer Booth was seriously injured," Anthony said, "but there [also] was the very great potential for the death of the officer and other people on the street."
by CNB