Virginia: Roanoke man who struck officer with car to serve 10 months
According to police, Banks and a female acquaintance were having a dispute when officers arrived. The couple jumped into Banks’ car and, although ordered to stop, Banks reversed, striking the officer’s leg.
“It didn’t really hurt him,” police spokesman Scott Leamon said at the time, but he added, “he thought they were trying to hit him.”
According to Roanoke Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil, Banks continued on for about another three blocks — pursued by another officer — before losing control of his vehicle and crashing. No one was injured in the wreck.
Banks was also charged that night with DUI, an offense to which he pleaded no contest last year in Roanoke General District Court. He was given 30 days in jail and billed $446 in fines and court costs.
Police initially charged Banks with attempted second-degree murder, a decision prosecutors revised a few days later.
“In the light of day, with assessment of the facts, it appears a charge of attempted murder won’t be able to be proven,” Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney Donald Caldwell said in August.
The charge was amended to assault and battery of a law enforcement officer and, in turn, reduced through Banks’ plea agreement to one count of obstruction.
In 2012, Banks pleaded no contest in Roanoke Circuit Court to malicious wounding, a felony. He was given a five-year sentence with four years and 10 months of that time suspended.
It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether his more recent conviction will cause some or all of that sentence to be revoked.
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