Deputy OK After Being Dragged By Vehicle

A county man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly dragging a sheriff's deputy with his vehicle and nearly striking a second one Friday night.

Lester Randolph Williams Jr., 24, of 377 Beulah Brown Road is in custody under $200,000 secured bond at the Lee County Jail after dragging Lt. David Prevatte of the Lee County Sheriff's Office "20 or 30 feet" with his vehicle. Prevatte was not seriously injured. Det. Brandon Wall of the Lee County Sheriff's Office said Prevatte and two other deputies were conducting a license check at the intersection of Beulah Brown and Minter School roads around 9 p.m. Friday night when Williams came through the intersection. "As Lt. Prevatte approached the vehicle, the odor of marijuana just slapped him in the face," Wall said. According to Wall, Prevatte told Williams to turn off his car and show his driver's license. Williams allegedly failed to cooperate, and Prevatte opened the vehicle's door in an attempt to turn off the vehicle. Instead, Williams allegedly began to drive away and nearly struck another officer who was on the scene. Prevatte hung on and was dragged for a short distance before he was able to force the car off the road and to a stop. At that point, Williams fled on foot but was caught just a short distance down the road.

In his vehicle, deputies found nearly two ounces of marijuana and about $2,000 in cash.

Williams was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and felony possession of marijuana. Prevatte was checked for injuries at the scene but was fine aside from being "scraped up," Wall said.