Man crashes car, flees from officers

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 10, 2016

Public Safety Reports

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

One driver ended up in handcuffs early Wednesday morning after allegedly trying to flee a police checkpoint near the intersection of Hamilton and Union streets.

LaGrange police said a black Ford Mustang approached the checkpoint about 1:30 a.m., suddenly made a U-turn to avoid the area, accelerated and got stuck on guide wires to a utility pole.

The driver got out and ran into nearby woods, police stated. He was captured a short time later and allegedly told officers he ran because his driver’s license was suspended.

A passenger in the car was not hurt in the wreck, officers said.

The driver was charged with a seat belt violation, driving while his license was suspended, fleeing/attempting to elude officers, obstruction, striking a fixture and improper U-turn, all misdemeanors.

Battery

A woman who said her husband beat her ran to call 911 at the home of a neighbor, who is a LaGrange police officer, in the 200 block of Cosby Drive on Tuesday.

Officers who responded to the call said the woman had a large knot on her forehead, bloody nose and bruising around her right eye. She told officers her husband was drinking and accused her of texting an ex-boyfriend.

They argued and her husband smashed her cell phone, hit her in the face, slammed her face-first into a wall, kicked her in the back and groin area and then told her to leave.

The man admitted to officers that he argued with his wife and shattered her phone, but claimed she swung at him first and he struck her with an open hand. Officers said the husband’s story was inconsistent and charged him with battery under the Family Violence Act.

Entering autos

• A man told LaGrange police someone stole a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol valued at $425 and stored in a gun box inside his 1998 Ford Crown Victoria while it was parked on the 400 block of Revis Street on Tuesday afternoon.

• A woman told police someone entered her gold Buick about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday while she was visiting a friend’s home in the 200 block of Cooley Road. One of the people inside the house saw the alleged suspects and described them to police as two white females driving away in a white 2013 Mercedes Benz. The thieves took $100, the vehicle’s registration and insurance cards, Apple iPhone valued at $125 and various tools valued at about $75.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases. It is the policy of the Daily News to list the names of people charged with felonies.

Reach the LaGrange Daily News at 706-884-7311.

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