A routine trip from FAMU to the Leon County Jail ended in an accident for a FAMU Police Department officer Tuesday afternoon.
The Tallahassee Police Department received a call at 3:19 p.m. after FAMUPD Officer Derrick Folson lost control of his no. 37 squad car. Folson was transporting two FAMU students to LCJ.
Folson was riding southbound on Roberts Road, off Stuckey Street, when Folson moved off the road, said Dave Gantt, a TPD officer.
Folson damaged his vehicle in the accident.
Gantt said while the posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph, it did not appear as if Folson was speeding.
“The prisoners were not hurt,” Gantt said. “Just beat up a little bit.”
Steve Gauding, sergeant for the Special Operations Division for TPD’s Traffic Unit, also said there was no indication that Folson was in violation of the speed limit.
Gauding said accidents of this nature happen on a regular basis, but he can’t say how many involve law enforcement officers.
FAMUPD Lt. Louis Wichers declined to comment on what happened inside the car prior to the accident because it is still under investigation by TPD.
Wichers said the two black male students who were arrested earlier Tuesday for fighting.
However, at the time of the accident, Wichers said he would not be able to disseminate any more information about the case until TPD made their final report on the incident.
Gauding said there was a large drop-off on the right side of the squad car. He added that when Folson tried to re-enter the road, the right rear tire dug into the pavement causing the vehicle to rollover.
Wichers said he has an idea of how much the damages to the vehicle would be.
Wichers he added that FAMUPD has not received an estimate in writing.
“Anything, I say (at this point) would be pure speculation,” Wichers said.
Wednesday, Wichers identified the two men as Derek Kemp and Dorell Humphrey. Kemp, 23, is originally from Georgia and Humphrey, 21, hails from Florida.
Wichers said the two FAMU students fought in the parking lot near Gaither Gymnasium and FAMUPD received a call around 2:21 p.m. Wednesday.
Wichers said he did not know exactly what lead to the conflict. However, he did say both Kemp and Humphrey were charged with public affray, the legal term for fighting.
If convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor, the two could serve a maximum of 364 days in county jail.
contact Nick Birdsong at mrbirdsong@hotmail.com