Taul v. State

The defendant drove his vehicle at a speed of 40 mph directly at a deputy, who raised his arms and yelled for defendant to stop at a roadblock, and the deputy had to jump out of the roadway to avoid being struck by defendant's vehicle.

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A Bibb County jury convicted Donald Jeremy Taul of aggravated assault on a peace officer, fleeing or attempting to elude police, obstruction of an officer, and driving with a suspended or revoked license. Taul appeals, contending that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss the aggravated assault charge; in failing to grant a directed verdict of acquittal on the aggravated assault charge; and in failing to instruct the jury on the defenses of justification and the right to resist an unlawful detention. He also contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. For the reasons that follow, we affirm. Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict,1 the evidence at trial showed that Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies were conducting a roadblock when Taul drove his car containing three passengers toward the roadblock, traveling at an approximate speed of 40 miles per hour. According to two of Taul’s passengers, the roadblock was clearly visible in the roadway, but as they approached, Taul “pretty much freaked out and said he wasn’t stopping.”2 Taul accelerated his car as he approached the roadblock while the deputies yelled for him to stop. The victim, a deputy who was assisting with the roadblock, stepped into the roadway, raised his arms, and joined the other deputies in ordering Taul to stop. Taul did not comply nor slow down, but instead drove straight through the roadblock. The deputy had to”jump back out of the lane” to avoid “being struck by Taul’s vehicle and receiving serious injuries.”

The deputies pursued Taul’s vehicle in a high speed chase. The chase ended when Taul loss control of his vehicle and the vehicle flipped over onto its top. Taul and his three passengers crawled out of the vehicle. Taul fled on foot, but was identified by the passengers as the driver of the vehicle. Taul was later arrested.

Taul v. State

The defendant drove his vehicle at a speed of 40 mph directly at a deputy, who raised his arms and yelled for defendant to stop at a roadblock, and the deputy had to jump out of the roadway to avoid being struck by defendant's vehicle.

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