A Clark County sheriff’s cruiser camera shows a deputy pull over a Honda CRV for speeding around 2 a.m. on Friday near the Moorefield Road area — but when the deputy approaches the vehicle, the driver makes a quick U-turn and takes off.
The driver nearly hit the deputy.
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The driver then led the deputy on a chase that crossed into Champaign County. At many times the driver can be seen in the video weaving in and out of yards, barely missing mailboxes and crossing left-of-center.
The chase eventually comes to a stop near Prairie Road, where the deputy tells the driver to throw the keys on the ground and step out of the vehicle.
“(The chase) was a matter of four minutes,” said Sgt. Scott Elliott with the sheriff’s office. “He posed quite a risk to the public, almost could’ve driven into houses. There was a couple on-coming cars that he could’ve hit.”
The video shows the driver get out of the vehicle, unsteady, and he struggles to cross his ankles at the deputy’s requests.
Court documents read in part, “Upon searching the male’s person for any weapons or contraband, I was able to smell an odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his breath as he was answering my questions as to if he had anything on him.”
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Deputies said that the man said he hadn’t had anything to drink, but when they searched his vehicle, they found open beer in the backseat.
The driver, who was identified as Davis, refused a sobriety test and a breathalyzer test.
In addition to the fleeing and eluding charge, Davis was also charged with OVI, driving under suspension, speeding and having an open container.
Davis’ arraignment was continued until April 2 when he could have an attorney present. No bond was set at Monday’s arraignment session.
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