A man was arrested at a police parking lot after he led officers on a chase the wrong way on freeways from Bellaire to northwest Houston early Friday morning.
Marcus York, 32, is charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer and felony evading in connection with the chase that began about 2 a.m., said Officer Phil Clark, a spokesman for the West University Place Police Department. The pursuit ended about 20 minutes later.
An officer with the West University Police was taken to the hospital as a precaution after York allegedly? rammed his squad car during the chase. The officer was slightly injured and is expected to fine, Clark said.
No other injuries were reported.
The chase began in the 5900 block of Community in West University Place when an officer spotted a black 2004 Kia Rio driving slowly with its headlights off, Clark said. The officer tried to stop the car, but the driver sped away. The officer followed him.
As the man drove through nearby communities, officers with Bellaire, Southside Place and Houston joined the pursuit. At one point York drove down a dead end street and when he turned around to get away, he hit two squad cars.
Clark said York entered the 610 Loop in the Bellaire area going the wrong way and drove to U.S. 290. Oncoming motorists had to maneuver out of his path. At times the chase reached speeds up to about 80 mph.
York exited the freeway at Tidwell, driving the wrong direction on the ramp and service road before he crashed on railroad tracks near the Houston Police Department Northwest Substation, at 6000 Teague, Clark said. He jumped out of his car and ran away. But he ended up running into the police substation parking lot, where officers caught him.
Clark said it is unclear why York refused to stop for police.
Copyright 2011 - Houston Chronicle
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
