Name:
Wiggins, Daniel Tyrone
Date of Booking:
04/22/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
RECEIPT, POSSESSION OR TRANSPORT OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON OR FELONY FIRST OFFENDER, ETC – F
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
Reckless Driving – M
FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER – M
Driving With Suspended Or Revoked License – M
OBSTRUCTION – M
Laying Drags – M
THEFT BY RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY (FEL) – F
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES – F
STATE CUSTODY HOLD-OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT – M
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on April 22, 2023]
On April 22, 2023, at 1941 hrs, I, SPO Villegas, was directing traffic at the intersection of Butler Ave and 14th St, Tybee Island, GA, in full duty uniform.
While directing traffic I heard a vehicle laying drag in the direction of the 1300 block of Butler Ave, southbound. As I turned to look in that direction I observed a black Dodge Challenger strike three vehicles in the rear, going southbound. I also observed Sgt. White and Sgt. Price chasing after the vehicle on foot.
I observed the black Challenger turn into the parking lot at the CITGO gas station, 1315 Butler Ave, directly in front of me, I too began to chase the vehicle on foot.
While chasing the Challenger, the driver nearly struck two pedestrians on the sidewalk as it continued into the CITGO parking lot. As the driver, later identified as Daniel Tyrone Wiggins, continued the Challenger struck one pedestrian, but the pedestrian was able to push himself away from the vehicle as it hit him. Daniel continued to drive the Challenger through the parking lot of the CITGO, toward 14th Street.
Because Daniel nearly struck two pedestrians and struck a third, I drew my service weapon because Daniel refused to stop and was clearly heading towards other pedestrians in the parking lot and hundreds more on 14th Street. I began yelling orders for Daniel to stop as I pointed my service weapon at the driver.
The front end damage to the Challenger was severe enough that the Challenger was beginning to slow down. The Challenge finally came to a rest at the far west end of the CITGO parking lot. I approached the driver’s side of the Challenger, with my service weapon still drawn on Daniel, and began yelling orders for him to step out of the car.
After several commands were given for Daniel to exit the car I reached for the driver’s exterior door handle and opened the door. I gave two more commands for Daniel to exit and he was still not complying. I then grabbed Daniels left wrist and pulled him out of the driver’s seat and onto the ground, where I was assisted by Sgt. White and Sgt. Price with handcuffing Daniel.
Once Daniel was placed in handcuffs, they were double locked for his safety.
After securing Daniel in the backseat of Sgt. Pages marked patrol unit, I began an inventory of the Challenger for towing. During the inventory I found one Glock 35 .45 cal, pistol with an extended magazine on the rear passenger floorboard. Further inventory of the Challenger revealed a Mossberg .22 cal pistol on the floorboard behind the driver. Further inventory of the Challenger revealed a plastic baggie containing marijuana.
I ran the serial numbers to both guns and the following information returned for both; the Glock Gen 4 35 .40 cal, SN VNZ663 returned as stolen from the Henry County Police Department, GA. The Mossberg International 715P returned as not on file.
The two guns and bag of marijuana were secured in Sgt. Pages’ patrol unit to be logged into evidence at Tybee Island PD.
Once at TIPD a criminal history for Daniel was ran and the following information returned; on April 10, 2021 Daniel was convicted for felony aggravated assault in Fulton County, GA.
Daniel was booked at TIPD for the following charges; possession of a firearm by convicted felon, aggravated assault, reckless driving, fleeing attempting to elude law enforcement, obstruction of law enforcement officer, theft by receiving stolen property (firearm), possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime (felony), laying drag and driving while license suspended.
Daniel also had a felony aggravated assault warrant out of Fulton County, GA.
After booking Daniel was transported to the Chatham County Detention Center by assisting CCSD Deputies.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on April 22, 2023]
On April 22, 2023 at approximately 1955 hours I was located on Butler Ave near 14th Street Tybee Island, Ga when I held out with a black Dodge Charger that was laying drag.
I approached the driver and requested his driver license. The driver acted like he was getting his license and then stepped on the gas accelerating the vehicle hitting multiple cars. The driver was stopped by Officers and removed from the vehicle at the Citgo Gas station.
The suspect was placed under arrest and I escorted the subject to my Police vehicle. I searched the subject incident to arrest. I transported the subject, later identified as Daniel Wiggins, to the Tybee Island Police Department for the booking process. I checked my rear seat for contraband and none was found.
Mr. Wiggins was presented with an arraignment waiver which he signed.
Mr. Wiggins was transported to CCDC by Sheriff’s Deputies.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on April 22, 2023]
On 04/22/2023 at approximately 1941 hrs, I (Sgt. Chris White) observed a black Dodge Challenger laying drag on Butler Ave just north of 14th St. I approached the driver (later identified as Daniel Wiggins) and told him to knock it off, there was too much traffic to be doing that. Traffic was bumper to bumper. As traffic started to move forward slightly and I was still standing next to his driver side window, he layed drag for approximately 20 feet.
Sgt. Price ran up to the vehicle from the south and I approached from the north and we asked for his drivers license. Wiggins hesitated briefly and then rapidly accelerated ramming the vehicle in front of him. He then swerved to the right and intentionally rammed two additional vehicles spinning his tires the whole time.
After ramming the vehicles, Wiggins then turned through the Citgo parking lot and almost ran over two people. He struck a third person with a glancing blow before crashing into a retaining cable for a power pole. Wiggins tried to keep accelerating to free the vehicle from the cable. Ofc. Villegas was the first person to the vehicle and ordered him out at gunpoint.
I ran up to the vehicle with my weapon drawn due to the continued danger he posed to the public while still behind the wheel. Ofc. Villegas opened the car door and pulled Wiggins out of the vehicle. Wiggins was stiffening up and not getting on the ground so I holstered my weapon and took him to the ground.
Wiggins still physically resisted us while we attempted to get him in handcuffs. He tried to roll over, pull away, and stiffen up. We got Wiggins handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle. I went back to check on the pedestrian that was hit but he had left the scene. I then went to check on the victims in the vehicles that were hit, nobody reported any injuries at the time.
[End of Narrative]