By ANSLEY HAMAN
Knoxville Sun-Sentinel
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — An off-duty Knoxville police officer standing beside his Ford Mustang talking to a friend today narrowly escaped serious injury when he was rammed by a passing motorist.
Officer Matthew Cook was in a parking lot at the corner of Clinton Highway and Merchants Drive about 11:15 a.m. when a man yelled a profanity at him, according to KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
The man then drove his car at Cook, striking him with the passenger side mirror of his Toyota Paseo before driving away. The mirror was ripped off the car.
Cook suffered a hurt ankle and a ripped T-shirt.
The officer got into his car and gave pursuit while notifying the E-911 Center.
He found the vehicle at 410 Walfred Drive in North Knoxville, called for an officer and the man was arrested.
Derrell Spivey, 43, was charged with aggravated assault, DUI and driving without a license.
Cook said he did not know Spivey, according to DeBusk.
“It appears to be a random act of violence,” DeBusk said. “The car is littered with full and empty beer cans.”
More details as they develop online and in Wednesday’s News Sentinel.
Copyright 2007 Knoxville Sun-Sentinel