On April 2, a car chase following an alleged hit-and-run ended at Lieberman with the driver, Terrance Anthony Roundtree, being charged arrested on two counts of aggravated assault against public servants and other charges.
The incident began with an alleged hit-and-run on Hwy. 224 about four miles west of Commerce. According to a witness, a white Ford LTD was attempting to pass a line of vehicles stopped on the road. While passing on the shoulder, the LTD struck the front right fender of a truck with two women returning home from work. The car continued going after the collision, and the female driver of the truck began to follow it.
The passenger of the truck, who wished to remain anonymous, said the driver called 911 and stayed on the phone with the operator, telling where the vehicles were headed, while following the car into Commerce.
Eventually, the witness said, Roundtree drove his LTD to the north parking lot of Leberman Hall.
“We didn’t park very close to him – at that time she was still on the phone with police, but they hadn’t got there,” the witness said. “It wasn’t but maybe two minutes and then the swarm – from every direction they came.”
The witness said the driver of the LTD approached their truck before the police got there, but they did not get out and he returned to his vehicle once police arrived. Police then tried to talk with Roundtree.
“They were just standing there talking,” she said, “… then all of a sudden, he hauled off and hit one of the officers right in the face.
“I mean he knocked him to the ground.”
Commerce police officials said Officer Steven R. Scott was hit in the nose and the orbital area directly under the right eye. Scott received treatment at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville and should return to duty Saturday.
“It took about five other policemen. The guy just kept swinging and kicking and swinging and kicking with both arms and both feet,” the witness said.
She also said the officers did not use their nightsticks, only their hands, when restraining the suspect.
Commerce police arrested and charged Roundtree with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and resisting arrest. He was also wanted on local warrants. A separate report for the hit-and-run was filed with the DPS, but was unavailable before press time.