Daniel Benoit
A 60-year-old Ooltewah man led police on a chase Saturday in which one officer fell and was injured and he rammed his vehicle into a patrol car.
Daniel J. Benoit, of 10272 Pleasant View Dr., was charged with a host of charges, including two counts of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
Collegedale Police said they got a report of a man throwing fireworks out of a vehicle. They said when an officer spotted the man on Tucker Road he threw a firecracker out of the window that struck the patrol vehicle.
Benoit then fled from officers onto Apison Pike. Police said he failed to yield to traffic at one intersection and then crossed the double yellow line several times.
A Collegedale officer who was in front of the fleeing vehicle hurt himself while trying to get out of the way of the vehicle.
Officers tried to use spike strips, but the driver went into another lane to avoid those.
He struck the deputy's vehicle near an Exxon gas station.
Officers had to tase Benoit to get him under control.
A large amount of fireworks were found in a brown paper bag.
His bond was set at $50,000.