The incident occurred on June 24, 2007 and appears to show Garren steering for the man. The recording contains the following exchange:
Garren: “Hey, I nailed the —- out of him. I nailed the —- out of him when he hit that —- field. He went flying up in the air.”
Deputy: “You hit him?”
Garren: “Yeah, I hit him. I was trying to hit him.”
Grant Explains Why He Ran
Grant admitted that he has several convictions, including driving under suspension, possession of contraband and failure to stop for blue lights.
He testified that he kept driving and running away to avoid another possible charge.
He said, “Just instinct — I thought I could get away.”
Garren could get 10 years if convicted. Civil liability, if sought, would be interesting. There is no question that this would constitute battery, if proven. However, the injury is in question and Grant’s poor character could taint both the criminal and civil case. Grant had been drinking that night and previously speeding. He lied to the FBI was first interviewed to hide that fact that he was on his way to a woman’s house in an affair that he was having. Garren’s attorney attacked his claims of an injury because on the fact, as defense attorney John O’Leary put it, Grant “had sex all night long” before he decided to turn himself in the next day.
However, the South Carolina Highway Patrol has been repeatedly accused recently of racial epithets and ramming suspects with their cruisers.
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