An alleged drug dealer was taken into custody after a high-speed chase June 9, which resulted in the suspect’s roller-over crash in the 2300 block of Oak Street in Wyandotte.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – A wanted felon and suspected drug dealer was arrested June 9 following a high-speed police chase and the suspect’s roll-over crash on Oak Street, after which he attempted to flee.
Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton said the suspect, a felon wearing a tether, with an extensive criminal history, has been under suspicion for illegal narcotics sales for months.
The afternoon of June 9, the suspect had just delivered a substantial amount of crack cocaine to an undercover officer and was sitting in the driver’s seat of his Dodge Charger, in the 500 block of Chestnut Street, when police officers converged to make an arrest.
As the suspect revved the car’s engine in an attempt to escape arrest, a police officer opened the driver’s side door and attempted to engage the brake pedal, to prevent the suspect from hitting any of the police officers converging upon the vehicle.
However, the suspect shifted into drive and accelerated through a parking lot at a high rate of speed, dragging the police officer, who was trapped between the driver’s side door and the car frame, before he was ejected from the vehicle.
Hamilton said the officer has since been released from the hospital, and is expected to make a full recovery.
The driver of the Dodge Charger continued to speed west on Oak Street, with police officers in pursuit.
The suspect then crashed into another occupied vehicle, which caused his vehicle to roll over several times before hitting the front porch of a house.
The suspect, who was relatively uninjured, extricated himself from the upside-down car, and attempted to flee on foot, with a police officer in pursuit, until he was overtaken and handcuffed.
The driver of the vehicle struck was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.
Hamilton said he is proud of his officers.
“We received a great deal of support from the citizens on scene,” he said. “We had three citizens assist our officer handcuffing the suspect when he was struggling with him.”
Hamilton said a crowd of bystanders cheered when a police officer walked the suspect to a waiting patrol vehicle.
“This type of encouragement means the world to the officers,” he said. “We are truly grateful for their assistance and support.”