Newly released video paints a stark picture of the moments after the crash that authorities say led to the death of Metropolitan Police Officer Terry Bennett. In the recording, taken inside a jail cell, the man charged in the case, Jerrold Coates, who uses a wheelchair, tells detectives he had been drinking and had smoked marijuana but insists he did not believe he was impaired. Bennett, 32, died on Jan. 7 from injuries he suffered when he was struck while helping a stranded motorist on I-695, authorities say.
Video Captures Post-Arrest Interview and Court Footage
NBC4 Washington obtained access to videos that were played during a Feb. 9 D.C. Superior Court hearing. One of those clips shows Coates inside a jail cell, speaking with detectives after waiving his rights. He talks about the hand controls in his vehicle and claims another car cut him off just before the crash.
At one point in the recording, Coates says, “I wasn’t drunk enough to be drunk like ... I hit an officer,” according to the footage described by the station. Prosecutors also played surveillance, dashcam and other video at the hearing, material that the outlet made available to the public.
Toxicology and Testimony at the Hearing
During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented toxicology findings and witness accounts. A detective testified that Coates’ blood alcohol concentration was about 0.16 and that marijuana was found in his system. Court testimony also described video that appeared to show the driver weaving through slow-moving traffic shortly before the collision.
Defense attorneys pressed on conditions at the scene, questioning whether the flares that had been placed were clearly visible to approaching drivers and raising concerns about whether Coates’ hand controls were working properly that night, according to reporting in The Washington Post.
Charges Filed and Court Status
Federal prosecutors have charged 47-year-old Jerrold Lonnell Coates with second-degree murder while armed and have assigned the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. According to a press release from the office, Coates made an initial court appearance where a judge found probable cause and ordered him held without bond while the case moves forward.
Prosecutors told the court they plan to rely heavily on the surveillance footage, dashcam recordings and body-worn camera video introduced at the preliminary hearing as they build their case.
What Investigators Say About the Crash
The Metropolitan Police Department says Officer Bennett had his cruiser parked with its lights activated and had set out flares while helping motorists after a minor collision on eastbound I-695 near South Capitol Street. Investigators say a Volvo XC90 then struck Bennett at speed, slamming into his cruiser and pushing it into another vehicle.
Court filings and testimony at the hearing state that Bennett was thrown about 22 feet and suffered blunt-force trauma before he later died at a hospital. The department’s initial release laid out the sequence of the crash and the arrest that followed. First responders at the scene gave naloxone to the driver of the Volvo before he was transported to a hospital and subsequently taken into custody.
Community Reaction and Memorials
Bennett, a nearly eight-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, was honored at public services and a procession that brought out fellow officers, city officials and residents who spoke about his mentorship and work in the community. National outlets and local media covered the funeral and the department’s tribute, and Hoodline previously reported on the arrest and earlier developments in the case.
Family members and colleagues remembered Bennett as a devoted officer, husband and father, and his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the region.
What Happens Next
Coates remains in custody while prosecutors prepare the case. Upcoming court proceedings will determine whether a grand jury returns an indictment and whether any additional charges are filed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the case is being handled in D.C. Superior Court and stresses that the charges are only allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, according to the office’s press release.
If the case proceeds to trial, prosecutors are expected to once again present the video evidence that featured prominently at the preliminary hearing.
