Smyrna Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Deputy

A Smyrna man has been sentenced to ten years in prison following his guilty plea on charges including assaulting a Cobb County sheriff’s deputy and driving under the influence, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday,

Joseph Brandon Vanderkooi, 31, was driving under the influence of drugs when he struck another vehicle near the intersection of Austell and Windy Hill roads on the afternoon of Oct. 25, 2013. Vanderkooi drove off, but was noticed by a Cobb County sheriff’s deputy who was just getting off work.

Deputy Jeff Potter, who was still in uniform, followed Vanderkooi’s 2000 Honda Accord to the next stop light, then got out of his vehicle and approached Vanderkooi’s. Potter ordered the people inside the Honda to show their hands; Vanderkooi’s passengers complied, but he revved the engine. When Potter opened the door and attempted to get Vanderkooi out of the Honda, Vanderkooi sped off, dragging Potter along until he was thrown to the ground.

Vanderkooi soon crashed the Honda in a mobile home park on Favor Road and tried to hide from law enforcement, but was unsuccessful. Vanderkooi has four prior felony convictions and was on parole at the time of the incident.

On Sept. 11, 2014, Vanderkooi pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated battery on a peace officer, hit and run, and charges related to the DUI. He was immediately sentenced as a recidivist to a 20 year term, ten of which will be served in prison and the rest served on probation.

“Deputy Jeff Potter stood by his oath to protect the public on October 25, 2013. As a result, he will endure a lifetime of pain,” Greg Epstein, assistant district attorney, said in a statement. “This defendant has demonstrated he needs to be removed from society to ensure he will not inflict such injuries on anyone else for a while.”