A man accused of driving his van into a city apartment building three times and trying to run down a woman on the sidewalk will undergo a mental health evaluation before he returns to court next month.
Jared Tyler Floyd, 20, of 102 E. H St., Apt. 7, appeared in General Sessions Court on Friday. Floyd faces four counts of attempted murder, three counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of vandalism, resisting arrest and evading arrest.
Earlier in the week, Floyd’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender James Lonon filed a request with the court asking for a mental health evaluation to be completed on his client. Judge Keith Bowers Jr. approved the request. The evaluation will be to determine Floyd’s competency to stand trial, determine his mental condition at the time of the alleged crime, any need for mental health treatment and to determine if he suffers from a diminished mental capacity.
On Friday, Lonon asked Bowers to reset the case until after the evaluation could be completed and results received by the court.
“We don’t need to set if for a preliminary hearing, just for a status update on the evaluation,” Lonon said.
Because of the length of time required for the evaluation to be completed and results received, Lonon said Floyd wished to waive the time limit requirement for a preliminary hearing. Bowers had Floyd sign a waiver form to that effect and reset the case for March 18.
The charges against Floyd stem from an incident during the early morning hours on Jan. 28. On that day, at around 3:20 a.m., officers of the Elizabethton Police Department were called to the apartment building located at 327 S. Lynn Avenue after a 911 caller reported a vehicle had crashed into the building.
As officers began to arrive in the area, EPD Capt. Jason Shaw saw a silver Dodge Caravan with front end damage and at least one flat tire driving in the area. Shaw began following the vehicle as it traveled around the area and then began returning to the apartment building. As Shaw watched, the driver, later identified as Floyd, accelerated and crashed into the building in the area of apartment number 3.
After that crash, a woman ran away from the apartment and, according to police, Floyd backed the van up and began chasing the woman in what appeared to be an attempt to run her over.
Officers were eventually able to remove Floyd from the vehicle and arrest him.
During the investigation into the incident, police learned Floyd had been drinking and had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend, who is pregnant.
While speaking with officers following his arrest, police said Floyd admitted to intentionally ramming his vehicle into the apartment building where his girlfriend’s father lives because he thought his girlfriend was inside.
“While Capt. (Jason) Shaw was at the hospital with Mr. Floyd, he stated he was so overwhelmed with the situation that he was going to kill (his girlfriend) and then himself,” EPD Sgt. Lincoln Orellana said. “When Mr. Floyd was asked if he thought the female that was running was (his girlfriend) he stated no. Mr. Floyd said he knew it was a neighbor, but wanted to kill whatever was in his way.”