Man flees after allegedly striking officer
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 17, 2016
LaGRANGE — For the second time in five months, a 24-year-old man is wanted by LaGrange police after allegedly striking one of their officers.
Marcus Durham, of LaGrange, was spotted not wearing a seat belt as he drove down Handley Street about 9:50 a.m. on Monday, according to a police report.
Officer Wendy Bryant stopped Durham as he pulled into a residence in the 800 block of Dunson Street. He immediately opened the driver’s side door and attempted to get out of the car, Bryant stated. She told him to sit back down and asked for his identification.
As police checked the information through 911, Durham started blowing the car horn and tried to stand up. Bryant said she placed herself between the open car door and the vehicle and told the 24 year old to sit down again.
A few seconds later, Durham allegedly forced the car door open, jumped out and pushed Bryant to the ground, according to the police report.
Bryant said she attempted to slam the vehicle door shut, but Durham reportedly pushed back, causing the officer to fall back and hit a chain link fence. He then ran toward Truitt Avenue.
Bryant chased him, had other officers set up a perimeter and attempted to track Durham with her K9, Chico, the report states. Officers were unable to find the man. Durham was still at large as of Tuesday evening, according to investigators.
This is not the first time Durham had a run in with LaGrange officers.
He was also accused of running a police checkpoint near the intersection of Dallis Street and Truitt Avenue on March 5 and allegedly tried to hit a group of officers.
According to a police report, Officer Brady Pike’s hand was caught in the driver’s side door and he had to “use his right hand to pull loose from the accelerating vehicle.”
Pike stated the vehicle “brushed against his body and his body pack holder was torn from his duty belt.”
Durham was captured a week later on March 12 after a brief foot chase from investigators with the Special Investigation Unit and Crime Suppression Unit through the Tall Pines Apartment Complex at 150 Turner St.
He was charged with loitering and obstruction for originally giving investigators a false name. Additional charges were added for allegedly hitting Pike with his car.
Now Durham faces a new host of charges for allegedly striking Bryant. An arrest warrant issued for the 24 year old includes charge of obstruction, simple battery, driving unlicensed and a stop sign violation.
The case is under investigation.
Anyone with information on Durham’s whereabouts was asked to contact the LaGrange Police Department at 706-883-2603.