Man charged with attempted murder of police officers 

A Winchester man is facing nearly two dozen charges, including two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, following a pursuit Friday afternoon on Bypass Road.

Daniel Vernon Banks, 33, of 135 College St. Apt. 1, was captured after he ran into a house on Old Boonesboro Road, where he hid in the kitchen cabinet, forcing seven children outside without shoes, according to court documents.

The chain of events started shortly before 5 p.m. Friday when officers received a report to watch for a stolen Ford Expedition near McClanahan Eye Care on Hospital Drive.

Winchester Police Officer Monte Corbett said he was near Lexington Avenue and Shoppers Drive when he saw the vehicle pass him in the opposite direction, he wrote in the arrest citation.

When Corbett turned around and turned on his lights and siren, he said the Expedition continued down Bypass Road and onto Boonesboro Road at speeds up to 85 mph.

Corbett said Winchester Police Sgt. Joe Riley set up spike strips at the intersection of Bypass Road and Boone Avenue to try and slow the vehicle.

Instead, the vehicle turned directly toward Riley, who jumped out of the way. The damaged Expedition then turned onto Boonesboro Road and drove directly toward Capt. Howard Frick’s vehicle, which had stopped oncoming traffic.

The Expedition swerved away at the last second and turned onto Old Boonesboro Road before turning into the driveway at 5925 Old Boonesboro Road, Corbett wrote. The driver, later identified as Banks, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle while it was moving and ran into the house. Several children ran outside as officers pursued Banks. They eventually found him hiding in a kitchen cabinet inside the house. Banks was eventually arrested, though Corbett said he resisted officers’ efforts.

Banks was charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for each of the children in the home, speeding, two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police, four counts of disregarding a traffic control device after running through four red traffic lights, reckless driving, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and third-degree criminal mischief.

He was also served with warrants for non-payment of fines from Madison County and a parole violation for a burglary conviction in Montgomery County.

He is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond, according to court records.

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