SUNRISE, Fla. – The 27-year-old man accused of running over a police officer and pedestrian made his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Police arrested Terence Eugene Powell Jr. on accusations of trying to kill a 20-year veteran of the Lauderhill Police Department and a female pedestrian in Sunrise.
He appeared in bond court Wednesday afternoon on two counts of premeditated murder and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and appeared to get argumentative in court over his attorney.
The crimes happened early Tuesday evening along the 2300 block of University Drive.
An arrest report states that Powell, of Miami Gardens, rear-ended the Lauderhill officer’s cruiser, not once but twice, leading to the officer activating his emergency lights and getting out of his cruiser to check out what happened.
A woman who saw the crashes pulled over to talk to the officer.
Dashcam video from another car captured what happened next.
The blue Nissan Rogue that police said Powell was driving barreled into the officer and the witness, then reversed and charged at them again, multiple times, before taking off.
The officer and female victim were rushed to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment.
Powell was arrested about four miles away, along Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 47th Avenue in Plantation.
Rod Skirvin, the president of the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, said this appears to be a random attack and said the officer is seriously injured.
“He has a multitude of injuries, broken bones and severe road rash all over him,” said Skirvin. “It is a miracle and we thank God he is alive and we ask for prayers for him and his family because it’s going to be a long battle for them.”
Lauderhill police officers said out of respect for the victims, they will not release their identities.
Powell is scheduled to make another court appearance on Thursday.