Thomas
A Minden man reportedly running from police racked up charges when they say he fought them and tried to escape custody.
Eric Dewayne Thomas, 41, of the 100 block of Knight Street in Minden, was arrested Saturday, Dec. 19, for resisting by flight, simple escape, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting with force or violence, possession of Schedule I CDS (marijuana) with intent to distribute and battery of a police officer. He was cited for no turn signal. Bond was set at $25,250.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper says Officer First Class Clint Smith attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to use a turn signal.
“The vehicle failed to stop for the officer,” Cropper said. “The officer initiated emergency sirens, but the vehicle failed to yield. The vehicle fled and reached speeds of 67 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone on Industrial Drive, crossing into both lanes.”
The driver, later identified as Thomas, then turned off Industrial Drive onto East Street where his vehicle left the roadway with both passenger side tires, he said.
“The vehicle then corrected reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour speed zone while traveling in both lanes on East Street,” the chief said. “The vehicle then traveled through a ditch into an open field. The vehicle traveled through the open field into a field with small brush and trees. He finally came to an opening in the backyard of a residence on Knight Street.”
He says the vehicle then turned and went back into the open field, traveling approximately 200 yards before the suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Smith, Officer First Class Shawn Jenkins and Sgt. Chris McClaran caught up to Thomas and attempted to take him into custody.
“He actively resisted officers by not getting on the ground when he was told to do so,” Cropper said. “Once officers had their hands on Thomas, he still refused to obey officers’ orders and continued to resist.”
Thomas was taken into custody and escorted back to the patrol unit for transport to the police station. While standing beside the door waiting for an officer to unlock it, Thomas reportedly tried to take off on foot again. Officers caught up to him and took him back into custody.
“At that time, Thomas spit in Officer Jenkins’ face,” he said. “A search of the area yielded 4.4 ounces of suspected marijuana which Thomas admitted was in his possession.”
He was booked at the Minden Police Station without further incident and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.