Twenty-four charges have been filed against the woman accused of stealing a Cobb County police car and leading officers on a chase that ended with a multi-vehicle crash in downtown Atlanta.
Emmerli Latrice Wilcoxson, 40, of Decatur, was released Saturday from Grady Memorial Hospital and transported to the Cobb jail, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office said Monday. Bond was set at $90,000 for Wilcoxson, who remained in custody Monday.
On Aug. 10, Wilcoxson managed to leave Windy Hill Road in the patrol car and drove south on I-75, where she hit speeds of 132 mph before causing a crash that injured several people, including herself, according to police. The incident began after police received reports of a suspicious person pretending to point a weapon, police said.
“The accused actively fled police, failed to maintain her lane several times, exceeded the speed limit by at least 30 mph, screamed into the police radio, caused a serious traffic collision in Fulton County, and then physically fought with pursuing officers,” her arrest warrant states.
As Wilcoxson approached the North Avenue exit, she drove the patrol car into the back of a Chevrolet Cavalier, sending both cars into the concrete wall, Officer Kim Jones with Atlanta police previously said. Two other vehicles were also involved in the crash, scattering debris across the interstate, which was closed several hours during the crash investigation.
The driver of the Cavalier sustained severe injuries to his lower body, Jones said. Wilcoxson got out of the patrol car after the crash and charged at officers before she was subdued. She sustained head injuries and was transported to Grady, police said.
Investigators suspect Wilcoxson was under the influence of synthetic pot, her arrest warrant states. She was also allegedly driving with a suspended license, police said.
Wilcoxson’s charges include aggravated assault, theft by taking, obstruction, fleeing, interference with government property and numerous traffic offenses, including failure to maintain lane, driving within a gore or median, reckless driving and speeding, booking records showed.
Wilcoxson has had a prior run-in with police. In October 2010, Wilcoxson allegedly threatened to kill a North Carolina police officer, according to Raleigh police. She was critically injured after being shot outside the Motel 6 on Maitland Drive in Raleigh.
No charges were filed against Wilcoxson in that case, according to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office. Wilcoxson has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against Raleigh and the officers involved.
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