Demetrius Drake, 41, is charged with felony fleeing and eluding, as well as obstruction and resisting arrest following a chase that started on Far Hill Avenue.
An Oakwood officer pulled Drake’s 1999 Chevy Tahoe over after observing the vehicle reportedly had tint darker than allowed by Ohio law. When the officer asked for Drake’s license, rolled up his window and drove off, said Oakwood police Capt. Alan Hill.
Two Oakwood officers pursued Drake as the vehicle entered into Dayton, at times reaching speeds of up to 55 mph, according to a report. Dayton officers joined the pursuit, deploying stop sticks on Main Street, which deflated the right front tire of Drake’s vehicle. A Dayton officer followed Drake down an alley off of West Mumma Avenue where Drake bailed out of the car, according to a police report. After he reportedly tried to jump a fence, the officer deployed his Taser before detaining and handcuffing Drake, police said.
Oakwood police allow their officers to pursue fleeing drivers so long as there’s no perceived extreme danger to the public. It also depends on traffic and weather conditions, the vehicle’s speed and whether or not the officer knows the driver’s identity and may be able to file charges later. This pursuit met the city’s criteria, Hill said.
“At no point in time did the safety or concern for the officer or the community outweigh the benefit of apprehending the suspect, and that’s what pursuits come down to,” he said.
In addition to the criminal charges, Drake faces traffic offenses including driving under suspension, window tint violation and failure to maintain marked lanes. He remained in the Montgomery County Jail Wednesday night on $4,000 bond. He must post 10-percent of that be released from jail.
UPDATE @11 a.m. (March 4):
The man who reportedly led Dayton and Oakwood police on a high-speed chase Tuesday night has been identified as Demetrius Q. Drake, 41.
The pursuit started when an Oakwood officer stopped Drake on Far Hills Avenue for a tint window violation, according to a police report. When the officer asked for his license, Drake reportedly took off, and a low-speed pursuit that developed into a high-speed pursuit ensued.
He was charged with driving under suspension, window tint violation, failure to maintain marked lanes, felony fleeing and eluding, according to Capt. Alan Hill of the Oakwood police department.
UPDATE @ 10:40 p.m.: A 41-year-old Dayton man was arrested as a result of the pursuit involving Oakwood and Dayton police that ended on West Mumma Avenue in Dayton.
His name has not been released, but a statement issued by the Oakwood Public Safety Department indicates the man has two active warrants for his arrest and is a known violent offender. According to the safety department, police also recovered evidence of possible criminal activity from the 1999 Chevy the man was driving.
The entire incident began at 7:20 p.m., when an Oakwood police officer stopped the vehicle on Far Hills Avenue on a traffic violation. The officer asked for a back-up unit, but the driver sped away, north on Far Hills, before the back-up arrived.
There were no traffic accidents or injuries to any of the parties who were not involved in the incident, Oakwood police said.
The statement made no mention of the Taser, which was used by an officer from either Dayton or Oakwood when the driver was being apprehended on West Mumma Avenue in Dayton. A message seeking comment was left with the Dayton police lieutenant who was on scene.
According to the statement, the Oakwood safety department would make no further information available until Wednesday.
FIRST REPORT (March 3)
An attempted traffic stop that began in Oakwood developed into a high-speed pursuit that covered several Dayton streets before coming to an end with at least one person apprehended.
The pursuit is believed to have begun sometime after 7:15 p.m.
An officer from one of the jurisdictions used a Taser on the driver of the car, and that part of the incident is under investigation. Whether the police officer who used the stun device is with Dayton or Oakwood has not been made clear.
The condition of the person hit by the Taser is not immediately available.
The Dayton part of the pursuit included Riverside Drive, West Helena Street, North Main Street, Hillcrest, Delaware Avenue, Rockford Avenue and Elizabeth Street before ending on West Mumma Avenue at 7:41 p.m.
We have a crew on scene. We will update this report as we get more information.