Henderson County deputy honored for 'split second decision'

Beth Smith | Henderson Gleaner

HENDERSON, Ky. - On a Tuesday afternoon three months ago, Henderson County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Daniels was finishing up an eight-hour shift.

The three-year employee of the HCSO said he mainly works second or third shifts, but on Sept. 24 he was working days.

"I was within an hour of wrapping it up and going home," the 25-year-old told The Gleaner.

But at 3 p.m., deputies were notified that a pursuit was in progress and en route into Henderson County from Daviess County.

Sheriff Ed Brady said the Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement unit was chasing a car coming from Owensboro which was occupied by five people -- one of whom was wanted for felony drug warrants -- and entering Henderson by way of Kentucky 1078 and onto Kentucky 351.

It just so happens that Daniels was watching for speeders on Kentucky 351.

In case you didn't know

On Kentucky 351 between Graham Hill and U.S. 60/Green Street, there are four schools -- East Heights Elementary School, Henderson County High School, North Middle School and Holy Name.

By 3 p.m. on any given school day, buses are pulling in and out, elementary-age kids are walking home and parents are arriving to claim their older children. It's a busy time of day with a lot of people and vehicle congestion.

The high-speed pursuit, which involved the alleged suspect's car and three or four police vehicles, was headed straight into that extended school zone. Authorities reported clocking the suspect's vehicle at 120 miles per hour, officials said.

"Deputy Daniels was in that area of the county and his intention was to get in front of the pursuit and put out stop sticks which would deflate tires and cause the pursuit to end," Sheriff Brady said.

"It was no one's fault, but there was some delay in communication between KSP and our 911 dispatch," the sheriff said. "Deputy Daniels found himself in front of the pursuit but didn't have time to throw out stop sticks. It was around Graham Hill when he realized the pursuit was overtaking him."

"This was 3 p.m. on a school day and there are (several) schools in this area ... Lights are blinking for school zone alert, school buses are lining up to take kids home, parents are arriving at the schools and some children were out of school and walking home," Brady said.

"Deputy Daniels had a split second to make a decision."

Slow motion

Brady and Deputy Daniels recalled in detail the incident during a Dec. 23 meeting of the Henderson County Fiscal Court at which Daniels was honored for his bravery.

"Next thing I know, it's being dispatched that the occupants in the vehicle are throwing drugs out of the windows ...," Daniels said. The suspects allegedly tried to dispose of several pounds of illegal drugs, officials said.

Then he saw them coming.

The pursuit was within 600 feet of entering the school zone near East Heights, he said.

"I have family (who works in the school system). My fiance's sister was substitute teaching at East Heights that day. I knew it was going to be bad. We aren't allowed to use a car to block the road but given the circumstances, I'm glad I did," Daniels told The Gleaner.

"I saw the collision coming within about 50 yards of hitting me. I thought to myself, 'This car is not getting around me.' When it happened, everything kind of slowed down. I remember looking over at the other car and hitting the brakes ..."

The alleged suspect's vehicle struck Daniels' cruiser in the back left which in turn was used to "push them off into the ditch," he said.

The driver's side door of Daniels' cruiser was stuck so the deputy crawled out the passenger's side door with weapon in hand as the five occupants from the alleged suspect's vehicle ran from the scene on foot.

"He was taking cover but also trying to provide cover for troopers who were responding to the scene," Brady said.

"There were five people in the car and all five took off. But they were apprehended," the sheriff said.

"He saw the pursuit coming up on him, and they were 600 feet from the start of the school zone. Deputy Daniels said he decided that the pursuit wasn't going to get around him. He was going to stop it before it entered the school zone.

"Had it gone into the school zone it could have been terrible," Brady said. "You've got the car being chased by three or four police cars."

"My personal opinion is that if Deputy Daniels had not taken this action, the potential for disaster was great, and we could have been on the national news had someone been hit."

Daniels told The Gleaner that he was not injured in the crash.

"I mowed grass that night and was back at work the next day," he said.

"I think about (the situation)it from time to time," Deputy Daniels said, adding he'd make the same decision all over again.

Owensboro man charged

The Kentucky State Police arrested Prince Jonathon Moss, 34, on charges of first-degree fleeing/evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment, trafficking in a controlled substance (second or greater offense), tampering with physical evidence and failure to give the right of way.

Moss -- who is under investigation by KSP's Drug Enforcement Special Investigations unit (DESI) -- was taken into custody after his vehicle crashed into a sheriff's cruiser around 3 p.m. on Kentucky 351 at the intersection of Deepwood Drive -- right at the city/county line.