Couple: Farries charged us with SUV after dragging death

A couple who chased Detra Farries while a tow-truck driver was dragged behind her sport-utility vehicle testified Monday that Farries’ SUV later charged at them in a shopping center parking lot.

Lisa Sundstrom and her husband, Omar Thorne, told jurors the black GMC Suburban accelerated toward their Ford Festiva on Feb. 23 in a strip mall parking lot in the 600 block of North Murray Boulevard.

By then, tow-truck driver Allen Lew Rose had already come loose. Thorne was the driver, and Sundstrom was on her cellular phone directing Colorado Springs police to Farries’ fleeing vehicle, they said.

“It was coming straight for us,” Sundstrom testified, before describing how Thorne moved the car to what he thought would be a safer spot.

Their testimony came as the prosecution’s case against Farries continued into its second week. She is charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident, manslaughter and vehicular homicide.

If convicted, Farries could face doubled penalties — up to 24 years on the first count and 12 on two others.

Rose, 35, became entangled in the cable when Farries allegedly drove away from a tow-in-progress at Hill Park Apartments, 360 N. Murray Blvd. He died on the way to the hospital after being dragged more than a mile.

Farries’ public defenders questioned why Sundstrom didn’t mention the confrontation in the parking lot to a 911 call taker, who was on the line at the time. An audio recording was played for jurors Monday. Sundstrom, who noted her husband felt safe in his new location, responded it wasn’t immediately necessary.

Public defender Jeremy Loew asked Sundstrom if she initially told police it looked like the driver was waiting to see what they would do. She denied it.

Thorne said he topped 50 mph while in pursuit. He saw Rose slam into a guardrail and hit at least two curbs in the process, he said.

When J & J Towing co-owner Rose slipped off the tow cable, Thorne saw others stopping for the injured man and told jurors he made a split-second decision.

“He’s talking to the Lord right now,” Thorne said he told himself, “and I got to go chase that truck.”

Sundstrom testified that Farries was swerving and driving erratically, causing Rose to be dragged back and forth even on straight-aways. Her husband remembered Rose swaying behind the vehicle only during turns.

Three police officers testified Farries was calm after being detained at Bridger Place and Bridger Drive, a residential area where Sundstrom and Thorne directed police shortly after the alleged confrontation outside the strip mall.

Officer Paul Vandel said Farries told him she had driven away from an attempted tow at the apartments.

She admitted seeing Rose waving his arms at her as she drove out of the complex, but repeatedly asked if there was another reason she was being stopped.

Vandel recalled hearing her say she thought Rose was in the Festiva. When asked, Farries said she didn’t see anything dragging behind her. Vandel testified that he intentionally didn’t tell her what was being dragged.

Prosecutors showed jurors pictures of Farries’ lifted sport-utility vehicle. Both side view mirrors were damaged and Farries’ personal belongings, piled high in the rear, “completely obstructed” the rear window, according to Breanne Hornsby, a Colorado Springs police evidence technician.

Also Monday, an eyewitness to the attempted towing took the stand after his testimony was cut short by a medical emergency last week.

Donald “Doc” Hearn said it looked like Rose “attacked” Farries’ driver’s window with a knife in his hand after chasing her on foot.

In response to a question by lead prosecutor Jeff Lindsey, Hearn said he didn’t see a green minivan slam on the brakes as Farries emerged from the complex exit moments later – contradicting other witness testimony about her exit.

Hearn and his nephew, Christopher Dunlap, previously testified that Rose threw his tow hooks on Farries’ SUV as she drove away.

Eyewitnesses’ differing perceptions have led to courtroom battles since the trial began. Jury selection started Jan. 30, and opening statements were Feb. 3.

Farries’ defense says Rose put himself in danger by chasing Farries and the she didn’t know he was being dragged behind her because of the condition of her vehicle.

The prosecution argues that Farries’ recklessness is what caused the death.

Testimony is to resume at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. The prosecution’s case could last through the week, and the defense will put on their case afterward.