Driver Accused Of Killing Cathedral City Cop Pleads Not Guilty
A man accused of leading Cathedral City police officer Jermaine Gibson on a deadly high speed chase entered a not guilty plea on Friday to charges of second-degree murder.
Durjan Germaine Gray, 35, faces four felony charges, including murder, stemming from the March 19 chase that ended with both his car and the officer’s car crashing into palm trees on S. Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs.
Gray allegedly had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system on the day of the chase.
In addition to murder, Gray — identified as a transient in court documents — is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs causing great bodily injury, evading arrest causing great bodily injury and engaging in criminal street gang activity.
Prosecutors today added a special circumstance allegation of murder of a police officer.
Gray remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail. He is due back in court May 27.
No charges have been filed against the passenger who was riding in the black Ford Mustang Gray was driving that day. District Attorney’s Office spokesman John Hall has declined to comment if a case would be brought against 46-year-old Dexter Coleman.
Gibson was the lead officer in pursuit of the Mustang, which was first spotted racing in Cathedral City, according to court documents. Police said the driver ignored the 28-year-old officer’s attempt to stop the car on Date Palm Drive, prompting the chase, which reached speeds of 100 mph.
As the Mustang’s driver sped around the South Palm Canyon Drive curve in downtown Palm Springs, Gibson’s squad car crashed into one of the landmark roadside palm trees and burst into flames. He died at the scene.
Soon after Gibson’s car hit the tree, the Mustang also hit a palm tree, crashing several hundred yards away in front of a Chevron gas station.
Coleman suffered severe head trauma and was hospitalized until recently, while Gray broke his jaw as well as bones in his leg.
Several of the charges against Gray stem from Coleman’s injuries, Hall said.
“The counts relating to causing great bodily injury pertain to the extensive injuries Gray caused to the passenger who was ejected from the Mustang,” Hall said.
Gibson, a former Marine, had been with the Cathedral City Police Department for about 18 months and previously worked as a reserve officer with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.
The Beaumont resident, a former Marine who served two tours of duty in Iraq and was awarded the Purple Heart, left behind a wife and 4-week-old son.
