DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt said she would contact the Department of Correction (DOC) general counsel to help Jerrold Coates access appropriate medical service during his incarceration.
Coates, 48, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 32-year-old Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer Terry Bennett. Coates allegedly hit Bennett on I-695 eastbound near the 3rd Street tunnel on Dec. 23, 2025. Bennett succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 7.
Defense attorney Dominique Winters said Coates has been paralyzed since 2000. She expressed concern over DOC’s handling of multiple health issues related to his condition.
To address Coates’ urinary tract infections (UTSs), Winters said that DOC failed to use collected urine cultures to properly medicate Cotes. She also said inconsistently sized catheters, or tubes, the jail was using to access the samples risked developing additional UTIs.
Winters also requested adequate care for Coates’ kidney pain and additional stem caps to protect the tires on Coates’ wheelchair. She also wants physical and occupational therapy to manage the physical symptoms stemming from Coates’ paraplegia.
Judge Brandt validated these concerns by referencing a previous case where improper medical care for an incarcerated individual with paraplegia turned into a “litigation mess.”
Winters was directed by Judge Brandt to send a medical alert to DOC with the five health concerns she outlined during the hearing.
Because of his paralysis, on the night of the incident Coates was operating his motor vehicle with hand controls. He claims the hand controls malfunctioned before the crash.
According to the arrest warrant, when interviewed by an MPD detective on Jan 9., Coates said he remembered “being on the highway, getting cut off a little bit, and then the crash.” Coates allegedly admitted to having consumed alcohol before driving.
At the time of the incident, Bennett was assisting a vehicle involved in a minor crash. Bennett had deployed emergency lights and road flares to signal drivers of the crash.
Coates’ next status hearing is scheduled for Oct. 9.
