La. Suspect Rams Cruisers During Pursuit

SLIDELL, La. --

A man led police on a wild chase, struck two police cars and almost ran over one trooper when he tried to evade a speeding ticket, authorities said.

The chase started at about 10:13 a.m. on Interstate 10 in Slidell when a trooper flagged down a 2004 Honda Civic driven by 24-year-old Peter Davis for speeding. When the trooper exited his vehicle and ordered the driver to do the same, Davis zoomed off.

"Davis fled westbound on I-10 toward LA 433 exit," police said. "As the Civic continued westbound on the interstate pursued by State Police vehicles, it crossed the center grass median and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-10, nearly causing several head-on collisions with east-bound traffic."

Police said the Civic then exited the interstate on the I-10 eastbound on-ramp at Oak Harbor Boulevard and entered the Lakeshore Villas subdivision. When it looked like Davis had reached a dead end, troopers attempted to block in his car, but Davis struck one of their vehicles and spun out of control.

Police said the trooper whose vehicle was struck exited his damaged vehicle and ordered Davis to stop. Davis refused and nearly hit the trooper. The trooper avoided being run over and fired several shots at the Civic.

The car then proceeded to Oak Harbor Boulevard where Davis struck another police car. He was on his way southbound toward I-10 when he ran over some roadway spikes, which had been deployed by police and deflated the Civic's front two tires.

Troopers finally forced Davis' car off the roadway and took him into custody when he tried to reenter the eastbound lanes of I-10.

Davis was charged with speeding, driving left of center, reckless operation, aggravated obstruction of a highway, aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated criminal damage to property, and two counts of attempted first degree murder of a police officer and resisting arrest. He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

Police said they are awaiting the results of a toxicology exam from the Louisiana State Police crime lab.

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