Stafford VA. Two suspects were taken into custody on Friday night by deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office on numerous charges following a pursuit during which the driver attempted to hit a law enforcement officer.

On October 25, 2019, at approximately 6:58 p.m., Deputy Pearce responded to reports of a reckless driver who was involved in a hit and run incident. The deputy located the suspect vehicle on Jefferson Davis Highway in the area of Hospital Center Boulevard. He attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued traveling. The suspect vehicle was being driven erratically and repeatedly crossed over the double yellow and solid white lines on the roadway.

The suspect vehicle eventually pulled over on Jefferson Davis Highway in the area of Sage Lane. The deputy ordered the driver to exit the vehicle. The driver failed to comply with the deputy’s commands; instead, he made an illegal U-turn and fled the scene, traveling northbound on Jefferson Davis Highway. The deputy returned to his vehicle and began pursuing the suspect.

Additional units subsequently joined the pursuit. Sergeant Aubry deployed stop sticks—a tire deflation device—in the area of Courthouse Road. When the suspect vehicle approached, it headed straight towards Sgt. Aubry and attempted to strike him.

The suspect vehicle continued traveling northbound at a high rate of speed and struck another vehicle in the area of Bells Hill Road. The suspect vehicle came to a stop after striking several parked vehicles on Cork Street. The driver and passenger were then immediately detained by deputies.

The driver was identified as Daryl Hatfield Jr., 31, of Fredericksburg and the passenger as Brandi Abbott, 20, of Fredericksburg. A search of the driver’s person yielded a firearm, two plastic bags containing capsules of suspected heroin/fentanyl, and a significant amount of cash. A search of the passenger’s person yielded multiple bags of capsules of suspected heroin/fentanyl, and a bag containing a white powdery substance.

Hatfield was taken into custody on charges of attempted capital murder, eluding, driving under the influence second in ten years, driving revoked DUI related, transporting a schedule I or II substance into Virginia, carrying a concealed weapon second offense, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a schedule I or II substance while in possession of a firearm.

Abbott was taken into custody on charges of transporting a schedule I or II substance into Virginia, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of a firearm while in possession of a schedule I or II substance.

Both suspects were incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

“Our country is in the midst of a serious opioid crisis and law enforcement is on the frontlines,” said Sheriff David P. Decatur. “Thanks to the efforts of the dedicated men and women of the Stafford Sheriff’s Office, the dangerous drugs found in this case will not find their way back onto the streets of our community.”