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Handcuffed suspect still on the loose

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By James Cummings, Staff Writer Updated 10:11 PM Tuesday, July 28, 2009

HARRISON TWP. — A Richmond, Ind., man who had been handcuffed was able to escape from an Ohio State Highway Patrol officer early Tuesday morning, July 28 , according to Lt. D.L. Eck of the Dayton patrol post.

Authorities continued to look for the man into the day, and a helicopter and dogs were used in the search, a patrol spokesman said. Residents of the area were urged to make sure their vehicles were secure.

The series of events leading to the man’s escape began about 2:30 a.m. when a trooper stopped Cordis Berard, 26, of Richmond, on a traffic violation on Needmore Road just west of Interstate 75 , Eck said. A radio check indicated Berard had an active warrant calling for his arrest, so the trooper attempted to take him into custody.

Eck said the trooper had Berard in handcuffs in the parking lot of a Marathon gas station on Needmore Road and was in the process of patting the suspect down.

Berard managed to slip away from the officer, and bolted in the direction of a nearby residential area, Eck said. The trooper chased the man, but lost him in the residential area.

Sgt. Chris Colbert of the state patrol said a Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputy was also in the gas station parking lot assisting the trooper with the arrest, and both officers gave chase when Berard took off on foot.

Colbert said there was at least one other person in the car with Berard when he was pulled over. The passenger apparently got into the driver’s seat and drove away while the officers chased Berard.

Colbert said the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am was found abandoned in the area later in the morning. Colbert said the state patrol is working with the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s office on what charges Berard and his passenger will face.

Neither the trooper nor the escapee were injured in the incident, Eck said.

Eck said Berard is 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighs 162 pounds. He is black and has a goatee.

Eck said the escapee was wearing long, baggy shorts and a pullover shirt with broad brown stripes. He was wearing a black baseball cap and handcuffs.

Eck said he did not know what Berard’s warrant was for.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2395 or jcummings@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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