NORTHAMPTON — Daniel E. Simmons testified Friday that he experienced a “character breakdown” when he allegedly assaulted and kidnapped his girlfriend Wednesday and then crashed his car in Southampton during a police pursuit, which seriously injured the woman.
“I was blinded by my emotions and how hurt I was,” Simmons told Northampton District Court W. Michael Goggins during a dangerousness hearing. “I’m willing to do anything to make this better.”
Simmons, 22, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty court Thursday to charges of kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, intimidating a witness and four counts of assault and battery on a family member.
The hearing Friday was held to determine whether he poses a threat and if bail would be set.
After hearing testimony from investigating officers, Simmons, and a 911 recording detailing a witness’ account of events that occurred between Simmons and his 18-year-old girlfriend in Northampton, Goggins ordered Simmons held without bail. Goggins cited the “life-threatening” nature of the domestic violence incident.
Simmons is due back in court May 20 for a pretrial hearing.
After conferring with his defense attorney, Marlene Morin of Northampton, Simmons took the stand where he admitted to striking his girlfriend during a car ride that began in Holyoke, and went through Northampton and Easthampton before the crash in Southampton on Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Pomeroy Meadow Road and Gunn Road Extension.
The crash injured the woman who remained hospitalized Friday with a collapsed lung and other unspecified injuries that included possible broken ribs, according to prosecutors, who argued that Simmons remain held without bail because of the severity of the incident.
“The defendant was completely out of control,” Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Michael Russo said in court. “It’s pure speculation that it won’t ever happen again. It’s a gamble the court should not be willing to take.”
Morin argued for Simmons’ release to family members with several conditions, including that he have no contact with his girlfriend. She noted that Simmons has no criminal record and was willing to seek anger management services. Simmons received a general discharge from the U.S. Army Reserves and is the son of Antonio Simmons, the director of community safety and outreach in the Hampden County district attorney’s office.
“He’s just never been in trouble before, and he’s willing to do anything he needs to address his behavior,” she said. “This is completely out of character for him. He made a huge mistake. He’s aware of that.”
“Going through this has shown me a lot about myself and what not to do,” Simmons told Goggins.
Northampton Detetective Lt. Alan Borowski testified that Simmons told him he had been dating his girlfriend on and off for about three years and that he learned she had cheated on him, which triggered Wednesday’s incident.
Northampton police had received a 911 call from a man on Grove Street reporting the screaming sounds and a possible kidnapping that police allege was Simmons and his girlfriend, who were both outside his Acura sedan.
“All I heard was screaming,” the 911 caller stated. “She was just screaming, ‘Put me down, let me go, I just want to go home.’”
Simmons then drove away with his girlfriend, who he had gotten back into the car, fleeing through Easthampton and then Southampton at speeds of 60 mph to 70 mph, police said. During the entire episode, Borowski said Simmons told police that his girlfriend had struck him and that he had slapped her in the face.
“It was a continuous argument, and a few times she would try to get out of the car … and he would pull her back in,” Borowski said, recounting his interview with Simmons after his arrest.
Borowski said Simmons told him that he had made a reckless decision that he regretted.
He was concerned for her,” Borowski testified.
Also taking the stand was Southampton Police Lt. Ian Illingsworth who was stationed at the William E. Norris Elementary School on Pomeroy Meadow Road and witnessed Simmons as his car skidded and crashed at a high speed, taking out a blinking yellow light in the school zone before striking a utility pole and coming to a rest on its passenger side.
Illingsworth said he smashed the car’s tinted windows with his baton to get at the two people in the car.
“They were trapped inside the car,” he said. “Entangled in the passenger seat.”
Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.