By Michael Copley
Staff Writer
mcopley@powhatantoday.com

A Glen Allen, Virginia, man who tried to run over a Virginia State Police trooper during a chase in Powhatan County last year was sentenced to two years in prison May 23.

On March 3, 2010, Neal Thomas Wooldridge, 42, led Trooper Otis Jackson on a high-speed chase through the county that started at about 2:30 p.m. on Route 288 when Wooldridge refused to stop for the officer.

Jackson pursued Wooldridge to Wooldridge’s father’s house on Huguenot Springs Road. There, Wooldridge parked briefly in the driveway; when the trooper exited his vehicle and ordered Wooldridge to get out of his own, Wooldridge revved his vehicle’s engine and shot forward, forcing the trooper to dive out of the way, Powhatan Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Cox said.

The trooper was unharmed.

The chase resumed and Wooldridge was arrested after he crashed into another vehicle in Chesterfield County.

Mental evaluations requested by his former lawyer, Anastasia Jones, cleared Wooldridge to stand trial.

In asking District Judge Paul Cella to order the evaluations, Jones said Wooldridge was “definitely not happy” about the motion, but said the court needs to be aware of her client’s mental state “at the time of the incident and now.”

Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, Wooldridge pleaded guilty to attempted malicious wounding, reduced from attempted capital murder, and failure to stop for a police officer. He was sentenced to 10 years on the attempted wounding conviction with eight years of the term suspended. A five-year sentence for failing to stop was suspended entirely.

Wooldridge was initially charged with attempted capital murder, felony eluding police, possession of controlled paraphernalia, driving with a revoked license and speeding 108 in a 65 mph zone.

Cox said a charge is pending against Wooldridge in Goochland County, where he is accused of hit and run.