VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL)--A suspect is in custody after two patrol cars crash in Valdosta. Around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, two Valdosta police officers were struggling with a suspect, identified as 27-year-old Demetrius Nelson, on Lausanne Drive.
Nelson was wanted for violating his probation and was also being investigated for taking a vehicle that did not belong to him and for taking items from the vehicle.
The two officers were injured and called for help from other officers to capture Nelson who police say left the area after assaulting the officers.
As officers were headed to the scene, the cars driven by a Valdosta police sergeant and a Lowndes County deputy crashed at the intersection of East Gordon Street and North Troupe Street.
The police car was going east on East Gordon Street. The deputy's car was headed north on North Troupe Street. The police car also hit a tree in the yard of a home on the northeast corner of the intersection. The sergeant was taken to South Georgia Medical Center with arm injuries.
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident. Georgia law and Valdosta Police Department policy allows for police officers responding to emergency situations to disregard certain traffic regulations as long as care is used.
Nelson was charged with two counts of felony obstruction and is being held in the Lowndes County Jail. He could face more charges.
