Driver Charged With Murder In Death Of Cathedral City Police Officer

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office formally filed charges on Thursday against the man who they said was behind the wheel of a car that led Cathedral City police officer Jermaine Gibson to his death.

Gibson had been chasing a black Ford Mustang that had been reported stolen, and the driver refused to stop. He was killed on March 18 when his patrol car crashed into a palm tree on S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs; the Mustang hit a tree about 200 yards ahead of Gibson, throwing both the driver and passenger out of the vehicle.

“Obviously, we’re pleased with the charges, but nothing could really get officer Gibson back,” said Sgt. Corwin de Veas, with the Cathedral City Police Department.

After nearly two months of investigation, the district attorney’s office filed charges against Durjan Germaine Gray, 34, who they believe was behind the wheel.

Gray will face arraignment soon on one count of second-degree murder, as well as one count each of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, felony evading arrest causing great bodily injury, and engaging in criminal street gang activity.

The counts relating to causing great bodily injury pertain to the extensive injuries Gray caused to the passenger who was also thrown from the Mustang.

“You just don’t know what the passengers involvement was,” said Al Franz, interim chief with the Palm Springs Police Department. “Maybe he was an unwilling participant; I don’t know. But, the person in charge of the car — the driver — he had his choice to stop or run and he decided to run.”

Gray was also recovering from injuries he sustained in the crash.

He is currently being housed as an inmate at the California Institution for Men in Chino because he was a parolee-at-large at the time of the fatal crash.

“Due process is going to be served,” said de Veas. “But, I would do everything to have Jermaine back.”