Midlands man allegedly hit 2 officers with SUV, fleeing with ‘large bag of marijuana’

A Midlands man was arrested for hitting two law enforcement officers with his vehicle after fleeing a traffic checkpoint with “a large bag of marijuana.”

Joshua Miles Mathis, 26, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and failure to stop for law enforcement.

The incident occurred after 9:30 p.m. Jan. 10, according to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, which was conducting a traffic checkpoint with assistance from the Newberry Police Department and the State Law Enforcement Division.

Mathis, of Newberry, was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe when he stopped at the checkpoint and a deputy saw “a large bag of marijuana,” later determined to be 12 ounces, on the seat, the sheriff’s office said.

When the deputy opened the door to remove Mathis from the SUV, Mathis accelerated, catching the deputy in the door, knocking him to ground and dragging him a short distance, the sheriff’s office reported.

Once Mathis accelerated, he the struck a Newberry Police Department officer, before speeding away, according to the sheriff’s office.

Officers located the vehicle a short distance away, but Mathis had fled and wasn’t located, said the sheriff’s office, adding Mathis surrendered on Jan. 12.

Both officers were treated and released from an area hospital, suffering minor injuries, the sheriff’s office reported.

After the incident, Mathis’ girlfriend reported the SUV stolen, but law enforcement determined she filed a false report in an attempt to cover Mathis’ crime, according to the sheriff’s office.

Titilayo Khadija Robinson, 25, was arrested and charged with filing a false police report.