CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS, Ohio — Three people -- including a Cuyahoga Heights police officer -- were taken to the hospital with minor injuries early Tuesday morning following a crash amid an overnight pursuit.
Cuyahoga Heights police say the situation started shortly after midnight when authorities attempted to stop a vehicle “for fictitious plates and suspicious activity” on East 71st Street.
The suspect vehicle, which police say was occupied by a male driver and female passenger, fled from police and made its way to Granger Road.
“After being partially disabled by a tire deflation device, the driver made a U-turn at the intersection of Tuxedo and Granger,” according to a press release from police.
Police say the vehicle then entered into the oncoming lanes of traffic and rammed into a Cuyahoga Heights patrol unit.
Calling it “a last attempt to escape,” police say the suspect’s vehicle then continued to ram other police vehicles as it was surrounded.
A total of three patrol vehicles were damaged, according to a press release. Both the driver and the passenger were found to have active felony warrants and taken into custody.
The male driver, who has been identified as 54-year-old Michael F. Lariche of Strongsville, was charged with fleeing/eluding, assault on a police officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lariche, his passenger and an officer were all treated and released from the hospital.
