Crime & Safety

Driver Accused of Nearly Running Over Lilburn Officer

Before admitting to the crime, the driver originally said he didn't see the officer because he was looking down while driving, according to the police report.

A man was arrested earlier this month in connection to an incident where a Lilburn Police officer was almost run over by a car.

According to the police report, the policeman was acting as the courtesy officer for Wesley Place Apartments in Lawrenceville the day before the arrest. Around 4:45 p.m., the property manager contacted the officer to report that he had spotted a suspicious vehicle that many people in the complex had complained about. 

The officer went over to the vehicle and identified himself to the driver while flashing his gun and badge. The man in the car immediately started the vehicle, so the officer ordered him to roll down the window.

Find out what's happening in Lilburn-Mountain Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Instead of complying, the driver stepped on the gas and drove toward the officer, according to the report. Making eye contact with the driver, the officer ordered him again to stop. The driver only continued to move forward, so the policeman had to jump out of the way. The vehicle drove onward to the back of the apartment complex, and police obtained the tag number.

A witness approached the officer and said she saw everything. She gave him an official statement later.

Find out what's happening in Lilburn-Mountain Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The officer ran the tag number and the owner came back as Vincent James Patrick, who lived in the complex. Having been arrested before in Gwinnett, the driver was identified as Patrick after looking at his mugshot.

With the assistance of Gwinnett County Police, the Lilburn officer went to the man's address and spoke with his sister. They told her to contact them when Patrick came home, which was an hour or two later.

Driving over to Patrick's car, the Lilburn officer found the suspect nearby with another man and was soon joined by a third person. After getting their identifications, the officer asked Patrick why he took off and tried to run him over earlier.

According to the report, Patrick said that he did not do anything. When the officer said he saw him driving the car, Patrick said he was looking down while driving and didn't see him.

One of his friends then said, "No man, you were driving so you had to be looking up, not down," the report says.

Patrick then changed his statement and said he took off because the officer "ran up on me and scared me."

The officer corrected him and said that he walked instead of ran. He also questioned the driver as to why his car smelled like marijuana, but the driver simply said his car always smells like that.

The Lilburn officer informed Patrick that there was a witness to the incident, and she had already given a statement.

Patrick was arrested the next day after a warrant was made for his arrest. According to the Gwinnett County Docket book, he was charged with aggravated assault and possession of marijuna with the intent to distribute.

Inside the Police Reports runs regularly every week. The information is based solely on police incident reports provided on request. It does not indicate a conviction.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.