Man sentenced after high-speed police pursuit, violent arrest in Centre County
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Raimey pleaded no contest to fleeing police and DUI; seven charges dropped.
- Dashcam video showed troopers using force after high-speed pursuit in 2023.
- Raimey awaits extradition to Mississippi while pursuing a civil lawsuit.
A Tennessee man’s time in Centre County is expected to soon come to a close a year and a half after he led state police at Rockview on a high-speed pursuit that ended in his violent arrest.
Dereck L. Raimey, 47, of Memphis, pleaded no contest Tuesday to a felony count of fleeing a police officer and a misdemeanor count of DUI. The plea meant he accepted the conviction, but did not admit guilt. Seven lesser charges were dropped.
He was sentenced by Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine to a maximum of 422 days in the Centre County Correctional Facility, time he already served. Raimey is to remain at the jail until he is extradited to Mississippi to face drug and firearms charges.
Defense lawyer Steve Trialonas declined comment Tuesday.
Raimey’s arrest in December 2023 — which was captured through a trooper’s dashcam — prompted a Pennsylvania State Police internal investigation. The department declined to share an update on the probe Tuesday, citing Raimey’s ongoing lawsuit.
Troopers Joshua Yaworski and Shane Eichelberger tried to stop Raimey on Interstate 80 in Boggs Township after they said he was following a semitrailer too closely. He instead drove away at more than 100 mph and continued for about 20 miles.
Raimey abruptly stopped his 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe near Milesburg. At least one trooper approached with what appeared to be their handgun drawn, while three others approached with either a handgun or Taser.
Troopers then began shouting conflicting commands as Yaworski and Cpl. Christopher Isbitski attempted to yank Raimey from his SUV. It appeared he was held in place by his seat belt.
After the seat belt was pulled over his head, Raimey was roughly pulled to the pavement. Yaworski threw about eight punches. Raimey’s mugshot showed his left eye was swollen shut. He is Black and the troopers are white.
“I ain’t from here,” Raimey said while handcuffed on the ground in response to a question about why he fled. “I’ve seen so many people get shot.”
“Yeah, you’re full of s---,” one trooper responded. “We’re cool, man,” responded another. “We’re not those guys.”
The troopers defended the arrest during an April 2024 hearing, describing the blows as “compliance strikes.” Yaworski testified he was concerned Raimey would either reach for a weapon or flee again if he was not removed from his vehicle.
He also testified it was his only option after a fellow trooper put himself in what Yaworksi described as a “very dangerous crossfire position.”
The troopers also said their interactions with Raimey after the arrest were respectful and cooperative. Yaworski testified he even bought Raimey a cheeseburger and drink from Rutters’ on his own dime.
Raimey later told troopers he snorted a small bag of cocaine during the pursuit. Video played in court showed Raimey falling asleep, slurring his words and appearing sluggish.
Centre County Assistant District Attorney Matt Metzger previously said Raimey has a prolific rap sheet. He has at least eight convictions between 2001 and 2022, most of which involved drugs, firearms and fleeing from police. He was twice convicted of vehicular homicide.
Raimey’s lawsuit listed as defendants nearly every person that had a hand in his criminal case, from two judges and the troopers to his previous defense lawyers and Centre County prosecutors.
Filed in March without an attorney, Raimey claimed he was “racially profiled and brutally beaten.” He’s seeking unspecified monetary damages.