A Metro Nashville Police Department cruiser was heavily damaged late Monday when it was struck by a vehicle driven by a man now facing DUI charges, the department said in an overnight event that brought several charges against the suspect. According to a report from WSMV, the cruiser, occupied by an East Precinct officer, was traveling on Gallatin Pike at approximately 11 PM when another car, driven by Phillip A. Deark, collided with it after pulling out into the street.
The officer involved sustained wrist pain but refused medical attention right away, and police later determined that Deark appeared to be under the influence, resulting in DUI charges that were filed Tuesday morning. Philip Deark was found to be uninjured in the incident, with the patrol vehicle needing to be towed due to the extent of the damage. In a parallel account from FOX 17, there's mention that in addition to the DUI, Deark is also charged with implied consent and resisting arrest; this suggests a confrontation took place during the apprehension of the driver.
Furthering the narrative of the post-crash sequence, NewsChannel 5 reported that after the collision, Deark attempted to walk away from the scene while ignoring commands from the officer, resulting in a physical altercation when Deark resisted arrest. Additionally, a bag of marijuana was discovered near the area where Deark was apprehended after officers noticed signs of intoxication when backup arrived.
Deark struggled with the field sobriety tests administered at the scene and now faces multiple charges including DUI and resisting arrest, the pain experienced by the officer was minor, with cuts and bruises also reported, no other physical injuries were reported in the crash, the vehicle Deark struck, a marked unit of the MNPD, was rendered inoperable and required towing from Gallatin Pike where the late-night incident unfolded. The Metro Nashville Police Department has not released further details regarding the officer's status or the specific damages to the patrol car following this incident.
