David Poppiti, 17, and Eric J. Gerren, 16, appeared in Bell County District Court on Monday, Feb. 11 with court-appointed attorneys. The defendants requested a continuance so they could obtain school records and employ a psychologist, according to Bell County Attorney Neil Ward. The defendants’ attorneys are seeking to keep the trial in juvenile court.
Ward stated that he wants to prosecute both defendants as adults. “This is a serious crime and they should be tried as adults because of their age and previous records,” Ward said.
Bell County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Pursifull, 31, and his police dog, King, died when the teens’ car rammed into his parked cruiser during a high-speed chase early on Jan. 10, following a gas-station drive-off.
Poppiti has been charged with killing a police officer as well as complicity to commit murder of King. Gerren has been charged with complicity to commit murder, in both cases. They also have been charged with assault on a police animal, a felony charge, under Kentucky law.
The hearing is re-scheduled for March 11, in Bell County District Court. It will be determined at that time if the two will be tried as adults.
C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.
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