Update: Jermaine Gibson made a brief court appearance Thursday, April 22. His cases were continued to May 13.
The original story follows:
How does one have some 13 motor vehicle and criminal charges pending at one time?
For Jermaine Gibson, 35, of Smith Street, Derby, it started with a drug bust — one in which he wasn’t the intended target.
Gibson — who is being held in jail in Bridgeport on five bonds totaling $220,000 — is due in Superior Court in Derby April 22.
According to court documents, Gibson’s recent slew of run-ins with local police started May 7, 2009, when Shelton police were observing a drug suspect — Fran Tichey, 46 — on Perry Avenue. Tichey repeatedly got in and out of a red Lexus, then returned to her apartment, police said.
The Lexus drove off, tailed by an unmarked police car. Police pulled the car over in front of City Hall in Derby.
The car reeked of marijuana. In fact, the odor was so strong, a police canine was unable to sniff the Lexus to see if there were other drugs in the car.
According to court documents, Tichey told cops she was buying crack cocaine from the guys in the Lexus.
Gibson was a passenger in the Lexus, according to police. He and the Lexus driver, Dwayne Gibson, 31, were charged with possession of narcotics, possession of drugs near a school or day care and sale of certain illegal drugs.
Tichey, meanwhile, was charged with five felony drug charges. Her case is pending.
Dwayne Gibson was sentenced March 15 to 18 months in prison.
However, the other Gibson, Jermaine, posted bond and remained out on the street, even though he was already on probation.
A probation violation stemming from the May 7 arrest is pending, as are a few drug charges added against Gibson May 8.
Police next saw Gibson Oct. 30, 2009, during a car chase that started on Route 8 north in Trumbull and ended with Gibson crashing his vehicle into Griffin Hospital — and then running away. He was caught a short-time later, according to the New Haven Register — but not before fighting with police.
Gibson racked up eight charges: Illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, engaging police in pursuit, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, reckless driving, evading responsibility/causing property damage or injury, failure to drive in the proper lane, assaulting a police officer, and interfering with an officer/resisting arrest.
After his arrest, authorities lodged one more charge — for allegedly failing to appear for a December 2009 court date in Bridgeport.
Gibson is due in Derby court at 10 a.m. Thursday (April 22).