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    • Man sentenced to prison for running over Edmond OK officer
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    Man sentenced to prison for running over Edmond OK officer

    Sakege Posted on

    Garrett Trammell, 26, stood expressionless with his hands in his pockets as his family tried to cheer him up.

    Nearby, several Edmond Police Department officers milled about or stood silently in pairs. It was around 3:30 pm Thursday in the eighth-floor lobby of the Oklahoma County Courthouse.

    About 15 minutes later, Trammell left the courthouse with his hands cuffed behind his back.

    Oklahoma County District Court Judge Amy Palumbo sentenced him to 25 years in prison for crashing his truck into an ex. Edmond Police Sgt. Joseph Wellsa highly respected motorcycle officer with 18 years on the force.

    During the hearing, Wells was sitting in a wheelchair and wearing shorts that revealed his amputated left leg below the knee. After the hearing, Wells’ wife took him to an elevator.

    They had to walk past the remaining group of Trammell’s loved ones comforting each other.

    What happened to Edmond Police Officer Joe Wells?

    On September 23, 2022, several Edmond police officers pursued Trammell after receiving reports that he was intentionally ramming his truck into vehicles on the road.

    Trammell struck a vehicle just south of S 33 Street at S Broadway while swerving into an occupied lane. He continued driving recklessly and sideswiped another vehicle.

    An officer in a marked patrol car attempted to make a traffic stop after seeing Trammell cross his truck across three lanes of traffic. Trammell was seen driving his truck toward the vehicle in front of him. He then reversed and was chased by police.

    Police said Trammell at one point drove 50 mph in a residential area at 25 mph. He drove left of center several times and swerved in and out of traffic.

    Police attempted a pit maneuver near N Eastern Avenue and S Boulevard, where Trammell’s truck spun. He then drove north and struck a marked and occupied Edmond patrol car.

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    As Trammell drove in their direction, Wells, who was 40 years old at the time, shot at Trammell and attempted to move out of the way.

    Investigators say Trammell’s truck accelerated rapidly and showed no signs of stopping. The truck struck Wells at approximately 41 mph, throwing him about 130 feet through a heavily wooded area and into a dry creek bed.

    Trammell continued driving briefly until his truck ran over a curb and stopped. Arriving officers detained Trammell without further incident.

    In the creek bed, Wells’ fellow officers found him face down and unconscious. He was still wearing his helmet.

    When he was placed on his back, Wells struggled to breathe and gurgled for several minutes as he fought for his life, according to police body camera footage shown in court.

    Finally, Wells began to speak. He repeatedly complained of pain in his legs and back while his colleagues reassured him and told him not to move.

    “Come on Joe,” was heard.

    “Stay with us,” they said.

    “My leg hurts a lot,” Wells said repeatedly.

    “Fentanyl is in,” said one doctor.

    Wells was transported to an area hospital.

    A prayer vigil and fundraisers were held for Wells, who had helped create the annual weightlifting tournament between the Edmond Police Department and the Edmond Fire Department that donates all proceeds to the Olympics. Oklahoma Specials.

    He retired in August.

    Sergeant. Joe Wells’ wife: “My children lost their father”

    The testimony of his wife, Cheridan Trevino, revealed the agony of Wells’ recovery.

    He has undergone several surgeries and continues to vomit regularly. Treviño described a man in physical and mental distress whose wish at one point was to be able to walk to the bathroom alone again.

    “I totally believe that I lost my husband, my children lost their father on September 23, 2022,” Treviño told the court.

    Trammell, of Tecumseh, faced one count of assault and battery by means or force likely to produce death; four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; one count of endangering others while attempting to elude a police officer and one count of leaving the scene of an injury collision.

    Trammell pleaded guilty without reaching a plea deal.

    Prosecutors asked for a life sentence. Defense attorneys asked for 15 years.

    In addition to the 25 years for the first count, Palumbo ordered maximum sentences of 10 years for counts two through five. He ordered a maximum sentence of five years for the sixth count and a maximum of two years for the seventh.

    Those sentences must be served concurrently with the 25 years for the charge of assault and battery with means or force likely to produce death. The crime requires that at least 85% of the sentence be served in prison. Trammell was ordered to be on probation for the rest of his life after prison.

    In a statement to the court, Trammell said he was responsible for his actions. He apologized to the Wells family.

    “Shame and guilt will travel with me for the rest of my life,” Trammell said.

    His mother, Lezlie Trammell, asked the court to give him a second chance. Lezlie Trammell said her son was respectful, caring and generous, and she “really wishes he could take back” the harm he caused to the Wells family, the Edmond Police Department and the community.

    Prosecutors attempted to cast doubt on Trammell’s remorse.

    They showed photos Trammell posted on social media while he was out on bail. Trammell was seen fishing, driving to a concert, and enjoying the Fourth of July with loved ones. In one photo you could see his ankle monitor.

    Treviño said that while her husband struggled to maintain his will to live, Trammell showed off his “carefree life.”

    Deputy Prosecutor Sydney Nelson asked Trammell what he was doing in Edmond the day he crashed his truck into Wells. He also asked why he was taking money out of his bank account.

    Trammell said he was going to the state fair. When Nelson asked why he was in Edmond when the state fair was in Oklahoma City, Trammell explained that he was also looking for a sex shop.

    Trammell gave no explanation for the violent collisions he caused, other than to say that “life just didn’t seem real that day.”

    Nelson asked him if he showed any remorse when officers ordered him out of his truck after hitting Wells.

    “No, ma’am,” Trammell said. “I couldn’t feel anything at that moment.”

    Nelson spoke to reporters after the sentencing.

    “I think, based on the evidence that we saw, based on the brutality of the attack, that’s why we obviously argued that we wanted him to serve a life sentence,” Nelson said. “Based on the difficulty Sgt. Wells has been suffering from the loss of his leg, he will have to deal with this case for the rest of his life, so we argue that (Trammell) should have to go to prison for the rest of his life like Wells.”

    Jacqui Ford, one of Trammell’s defense attorneys, spoke to The Oklahoman in the courtroom after the sentencing. Ford said Trammell is truly remorseful and has repeatedly shared his concern for Wells and his family.

    “He’s a 26-year-old man,” Ford said. “I don’t know many 26-year-old men who have a full emotional spectrum capable of processing things, and I think he did his best to be respectful of the court, of the stage. And throughout, I can assure you that Garrett and I have never spoken where the first question he asked wasn’t ‘How’s the sergeant?’ Wells? And that goes for his family too.”

    Sakege
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