NORTHAMPTON — A man who stands accused of kidnapping and assaulting his girlfriend while driving a car and being pursued by police through three towns on May 4 was back in court Thursday.
Daniel Simmons, 22, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to charges of kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, intimidating a witness and three counts of assault and battery on a family member.
The case originated in Northampton District Court before it was moved up to superior court.
At least twice, according to a police report, the woman attempted to flee from the car, but was forced back into the vehicle. Simmons pulled the car over in a parking lot at an apartment complex on Grove Street, police said.
Simmons was carrying the sobbing 18-year-old in his arms, police said, about to load her into his car when a man emerged from a nearby apartment to investigate the screaming he heard.
“Put me down,” the woman cried out, a witness told police. “I want to go home.”
Simmons dropped the woman to the pavement as the man approached, police said. The same witness told police he saw Simmons drive away with the woman inside.
The two traveled through Northampton and Easthampton before the crash in Southampton on the afternoon of May 4 near the intersection of Pomeroy Meadow Road and Gunn Road Extension, police said.
The crash injured the woman, who was hospitalized with a collapsed lung and other unspecified injuries that included possible broken ribs. Simmons remains held without right to bail, although his attorney can return to court at a later date to argue the amount.
Simmons is due back in court Sept. 14.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.