Angry Dallas Dude Goes Ham on 12 Cop Cars With Sledgehammer

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Earlier this week a man wielding a sledgehammer walked into the Dallas Police Department’s motorpool and started swinging. The city’s Police Association claims the man wailed on 12 cars at the Central Division station on South Hall Street in Deep Ellum at roughly 5:20 in the morning on February 4th.

The man, 58-year-old Gregory Simpson, apparently entered the police station parking lot through an unsecured gate and started hitting the first police car in sight. By the time he was stopped, he’d caused an estimated $4,900 in damage. Had he not focused primarily on windshields, that figure probably could have come up a bit. But, as breaking glass is one of life’s simple pleasures, his focus was understandable. Why he chose to vent his frustrations on parked squad cars is not, however.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Simpson’s motive remains unknown to police. Officers confronted the suspect and told him to drop the hammer after being notified by a witness that someone was outside bashing black and whites. He was arrested for “criminal mischief.”

Dallas Fire & Rescue was also called to the scene to treat Simpson, though the police report did not indicate what the treatment was for. Simpson told a detective who tried to talk to him after the incident that he wanted a lawyer.

The Dallas Police Association posted several images of the vehicles Simpson assailed and expressed a need for more secure parking lots. It also claimed to have already spent thirteen-million dollars to improve station security after a man in an armored vehicle shot up the Dallas police headquarters in June of 2015. There was also an incident in 2016 where Micah Xavier Johnson ambushed several officers with a rifle, killing five. Nine others were wounded in the attack, along with two civilians.

Around 5am this morning a suspect entered our central substation parking lot that’s STILL unsecured smashing 12 cars in total! What’s it going to take folks, Officer getting killed ? These parking lots need to be secure !!!!! pic.twitter.com/vWUGLFUlzV

— Dallas Police Assoc (@DPA_PoliceAssoc) February 4, 2018

[Image: Dallas Police Association]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Dukeisduke Dukeisduke on Feb 09, 2018

    Yeah, the city has been saying for couple of years that they're going to secure the lots at the substations, and some money was even provided in a bond package. I grew up in Dallas, but sadly, it's turning into a real craphole. The new police chief they hired? Yep, an assistant from *Detroit*, of all places. She doesn't have a peace officer's license, and doesn't plan to get one. You can't make this shit up, folks. Cops have been leaving DPD in droves, fleeing to cities (especially Fort Worth) where the pay, and the morale, are better. Morale has been in the tank since the chief two chiefs back now (David Kunkle) retired.

  • Detroit-Iron Detroit-Iron on Feb 11, 2018

    Not the hero we wanted, but the hero we deserve.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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