By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — A trial date has been set for youth group The Basement security director Vince Lovell, who is charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an October incident in which Lovell, according to a witness statement, allegedly was driving southbound and was over the center line on Chalkville Road in front of The Mall when the white Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving, emblazoned with “#FreePitt” logos, sideswiped a Ryder moving truck.
The trial is set for Feb. 14, 2014, in Trussville Municipal Court, said Trussville Police Department Lt. Jeff Bridges.
Bridges said at the time of the accident that the moving truck pulled over, according to the witness’ statement. According to Lovell’s statement, Bridges said, Lovell drove down The Mall area, onto Parkway Drive and waited at the Trussville Public Library. No one showed up at the library, according to Lovell’s statement. Lovell did not call police, Bridges said. Lovell drove home and called his insurance company, according to his statement, Bridges said.
“Out of nowhere, I heard a big bang,” Lovell said at the time. “My mirror whipped around and hit my driver’s window and shattered my window. When it did, I looked up in my rearview mirror and I saw the vehicle was continuing in the opposite direction and it didn’t stop.”
Lovell said he took the next left next to The Mall and still didn’t see the vehicle. He then proceeded to the library, where he saw a police officer leaving and tried to get his attention, but to no avail.
“When I didn’t see the vehicle any longer and I didn’t see any other options, I drove home, which is like a mile away,” Lovell said. “I didn’t have my cell phone with me. So, I came home to get my cell phone. I was literally there five seconds, and my wife said, ‘I think there’s somebody outside.’ I go outside and the Trussville police are in my driveway.”
The Basement founder and youth evangelist Matt Pitt, whose probation was revoked in October relating to a charge of impersonating a peace officer, faces a preliminary hearing in Jefferson County District Court on Monday for a second charge of impersonating a peace officer he received earlier this year.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.