SMITH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI — An 18-wheeler driver is facing three felony counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement after authorities say he tried three times to hit responding deputies head-on, then led them on a high-speed pursuit and barricaded himself inside his house.
The incident began around 8 p.m. Monday, November 2, on Highway 37, as Smith County deputies responded to an unrelated emergency call with lights and sirens on. The sheriff’s department said Columbus Taylor made three separate attempts to strike the deputies’ units head-on as he met them individually on the highway. An uninvolved motorist was also nearly hit.
Some units continued to the original emergency call while others tried to pull Taylor over. He refused to stop and led deputies on a 10-minute pursuit that reached speeds up to 80 mph.
The chase ended on Highway 37, where Taylor pulled over, ran into his home, and barricaded himself inside. His wife and child were outside the home and helped deputies communicate with him. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Taylor was booked into the Smith County Jail. The case remains under investigation and will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office. No serious injuries were reported. The Taylorsville and Raleigh police departments assisted during the chase and standoff.
“There is absolutely no excuse for intentionally placing the lives of law enforcement officers in danger, especially while they are responding to an emergency to help someone in need,” the department said. “Our deputies put themselves in harm’s way every day to serve and protect our community.”
The department did not say what motivated Taylor.
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