A man accused of fleeing police in his car after they attempted to pull him over was indicted.
Burt Harmison, 44, of Springfield was indicted on a charge of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer in Clark County Common Pleas Court.
Springfield police began their investigation when they were patrolling West High Street and noticed a maroon mercury station wagon on the road with a busted out driver side rear window, according to an affidavit. Metal trim pieces were nearly hanging out of the window, the affidavit says.
MORE: Springfield crime: Home of dead Springfield woman broken into
“I completed a U-turn and then activated my lights, the affidavit says. “When I did, the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed against the red light at Dayton Avenue and Jefferson Avenue,” the affidavit says.
Police did not pursue him because they were not permitted to, the affidavit says. However, officers saw him again traveling on Plum Street, the affidavit says.
“I got a good look at the driver again,” the affidavit says. “I turned around on it again and the vehicle turned eastbound on West High Street blowing the stop sign on Plum Street.”
Other officer began seeing the station wagon and reported that the driver was disobeying all traffic signs, the affidavit.
“I witnessed the vehicle pass vehicles in no passing zones, blow stop signs, blow stop lights, drive at a high rate of speed, all the while metal trim pieces falling out off the rear hatch,” the affidavit says.
Police were able to get his license plate number and went to the address listed on the vehicle’s registration. The station wagon was parked close by, the affidavit says. While waiting for backup, an officer saw two men walking nearby and recognized one as the driver, Harmison, the affidavit says.
EXTRA: Springfield crime: Man accused of road rage and pushing car
He was arrested without incident, the affidavit says.
Others indicted in Clark County Common Pleas Court were:
Ronald Crowe, 28, 220 E Cassilly St. in Springfield: two counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Arheaya Alexander, 30, 119 Seever St. in Springfield: two counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Dwayne Ross, 41, 416 W. Clark St. in Springfield: arson.
Warren Carter, 50, 217 W. Southern Ave. in Springfield: receiving stolen property.
Delawrence Cunningham, 46, 720 Catherine St. in Springfield: possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs.
About the Author