Man crashes two police cruisers

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - A man faces felony charges after crashing two police cars on Sunday. Police said he was driving under the influence of alcohol, but decided to stick with the felony charges, instead of the misdemeanor DUI.

29-year-old Winfred Bell faces several charges including felony assault of a police officer. His record includes probation violations, and assault and battery on family members.

On Sunday morning around 8:55 a.m., Game and Inland Fisheries Conservation Officer George Wilson said he saw a car swerving in and out of traffic on I-64 near Jefferson Avenue. Wilson let the car pass and started to follow it. He suspected the driver was under the influence of alcohol, so he called Virginia State Police.

State Police Trooper J. Mobley waited for the chase on I-64 East at Mercury Boulevard. State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya said, "Trooper Mobley sees a 1998 Nissan Sentra that was driving all over the road, and he started following it too. My Trooper tried to stop the car, was side-swiped, but kept pursuing it up to the Hampton Creek Bridge. The whole time he was serving all over 64."

Then on the Hampton Creek Bridge, Trooper T. Ferguson tried to stop Bell, but Bell hit the rear of the police cruiser. "Now this causes Trooper Ferguson to lose control, he spins out his vehicle, and he then hit the jersey wall hard," said Anaya.

Trooper Ferguson's cruiser is smashed in the front, and through the window you can see the deployed airbag which caused more injury to Ferguson. "Unfortunately Trooper Ferguson impacted the jersey wall so hard, the airbag deployed, causing him leg injuries and chest injuries due to the airbag...he was taken to the hospital and was treated and released," said Anaya.

Bell faces several charges including reckless driving, one count felonious assault on a police officer, and evading and eluding police. Bell is not charged with DUI because police said he was so confrontational and so uncooperative police decided to stick with the felony charges that are stronger than the DUI misdemeanor charge.