5 Years Later, Trial To Begin for Felon Accused of Killing Officer From Beaumont

Cathedral City police Officer Jermaine "Jay" Anthony Gibson was buried with full honors at Riverside National Cemetery in March 2011. Patch file photo by Guy McCarthy.

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Banning, CA– Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday for the trial of a convicted felon whose alleged drugged and reckless driving during a police pursuit culminated in a fiery crash that killed a Cathedral City police officer.

Durjan Germaine Gray, 40, could face life in prison if convicted in the March 18, 2011, death of Officer Jermaine Gibson.

SEE ALSO:Police Officer, Marine Corps Squad Leader Jermaine Gibson of Beaumont Laid to Rest in Riverside

Gray is charged with second-degree murder of a peace officer, DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, felony evading and DUI with a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation.

During a hearing at the Banning Justice Center today, Riverside County Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan ruled on a pretrial motion before scheduling further proceedings for Tuesday. Opening statements in the trial are expected next week.

Gray is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

The ex-convict allegedly fled from Gibson after the 28-year-old lawman attempted to stop him for an illegal U-turn in his Ford Mustang.

Another Cathedral City police officer, Alfredo Luna, quickly joined the pursuit, and he and Gibson sped after the defendant, who pushed his sports car to 100 mph on city streets, plowing through red lights and disregarding the safety of all other motorists and pedestrians, according to testimony from a 2013 preliminary hearing.

Gray -- allegedly high on marijuana, methamphetamine and alcohol -- crossed into Palm Springs within a couple of minutes and attempted to accelerate through a curve near South Palm Canyon Drive and Morongo Road.

Gibson was unable to negotiate the bend and slammed into a palm tree, igniting a fire, according to investigators. Luna testified that he came upon the crash a second or two after it happened and immediately stopped.

Gray's Mustang also wrecked nearby, leaving he and his 47-year-old passenger with moderate injuries.
According to Luna, he ran to Gibson's burning patrol car as several other officers arrived to assist.

Luna and the other three officers used their batons in an attempt to pry open the doors to the vehicle -- to no avail. They deployed fire extinguishers, trying to subdue the flames, but the car was well-involved in a matter of seconds, according to testimony.

Luna said one officer used his patrol unit to attempt to dislodge Gibson's vehicle from the tree, but the car was literally C-wrapped around it.

The officers managed to smash out the windows, and Luna was able to get hold of Gibson's arms, he recalled during the preliminary hearing.

"Was Officer Gibson responding?" asked Deputy District Attorney Anthony Orlando.

"He was murmuring, but I couldn't understand what he was saying," Luna replied. "I started pulling (his) arms, but the dashboard was pinned to his torso."

Luna said when the flames engulfed the front half of the car and reached Gibson's legs, he had to pull away because the heat was searing his hands, arms and face.

"Eventually, the flames consumed Officer Gibson's body. I tried to pull him out a few more times, but once I saw his face burn, I knew he was dead," Luna said.

Gibson, a resident of Beaumont, had been with the Cathedral City Police Department about 18 months and previously worked as a reserve officer with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

The former U.S. Marine had served two tours of duty in Iraq, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. He was survived by his wife and infant son and buried with full honors at Riverside National Cemetery.

Gray has prior convictions for auto theft, evading arrest, witness intimidation and possession of illegal drugs.

– By City News Service.