Judge sentences man to 25 years after running over Edmond officer during chase
Editor's Note: The charges against the defendant have been clarified.
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) — A man will spend the next 21 years in prison for running over an Edmond police officer during a high-speed chase. The crash was caught on camera in September 2022.
On Thursday, during a blind plea court appearance, the driver came face-to-face with the now retired officer who still carries the scars of that fateful day.
"I'm really just glad it’s over,” Joseph Wells said.
It has been two years since now retired Edmond Police Sergeant, Joseph Wells, was plowed over during a chase. Garrett Trammell was 24 years old at the time and stood before Wells and a packed courtroom on Thursday.
“Whenever he and his mom were on the stand, I made sure I stared at them the whole time, and he glanced up every once in a while, but glanced down quickly afterwards,” Wells said.
Trammell lives in Tecumseh but says he was in Edmond that day to visit a sex toy store. Police say during his time in Edmond he hit three vehicles, but when they tried to pull him over, he eluded officers.
Prosecutors say the black box from Trammell’s Ford truck indicated he never hit the brakes and made a sharp turn in the direction of Wells. A blood test showed THC in Trammell’s system. Trammell claims he smoked marijuana two weeks before the crash.
"It's kind of upsetting he still has never really said why he did it. He just kind of says he wasn't feeling like himself or whatever he said, like he doesn't care that it happened, doesn't want to apologize,” Wells told News 4.
"I always find it interesting when we decide to judge how people respond to traumatic events,” Trammell’s attorney, Jaquie Ford, said. “We certainly wouldn't be asked to judge the victim of a traumatic event, and I think this was traumatic across the board."
Prosecutors pointed out a motor vehicle accident Trammell was involved in 10 years ago when he hit and killed two females who were pushed into the roadway. Trammell was deemed not at fault and not charged in that case. His attorneys say that case has nothing to do with the case involving Wells.
Wells was on maximum life support and has undergone multiple surgeries. Part of his leg is now amputated.
Dash camera and body camera video from the crash was shown in court — much of which Wells saw for the first time.
"It just seems like a movie,” he said. “The one up close makes it more personal, but I still don't remember it. The one in the creek I get a little emotional with."
While Trammell told the court he does not know why he hit Wells, his attorneys argued their client was trying to swerve to miss him.
"I believe Sgt. Wells was trying to get out of the path of the vehicle, and I believe the vehicle was trying to get out of the path of Sgt. Wells,” Attorney Tommy Adler said.
While both Wells and Trammell’s defense team believe the sentencing is fair, Wells says there is still one thing missing.
"When this happened, he was 24, and when I was 24, I'd already served two and a half years overseas in the Marines. So I figured that's pretty adult. He should be adult enough to say something,” Wells said. "I think he needs to apologize."
Although Trammell did apologize on the stand, Wells says he has never received an apology directed at him.
Trammell was taken into custody and is receiving two months of time served. Once released, Trammell will be on the violent offenders’ list and on probation for the rest of his life.
However, he is entitled to a one-year review and could be back in court next year.
Judge Amy Palumbo sentenced Trammell to 25 years for assault and battery with means likely to produce death, 10 years each for four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five years for engaging to elude police, and two years for leaving the scene of an accident.
All counts will run concurrently. Trammel will serve an 85% minimum of his sentence.