SEVEN HILLS, Ohio — A police chase in Seven Hills, Ohio, on Tuesday ended with a crash and a suspect being arrested following a short foot chase.
The incident took place at approximately 8 a.m. when an officer in a parked patrol car noticed a gold Lexus E 300 traveling eastbound on East Valley Pleasant Road without a visible license plate. The officer then drove behind the vehicle and activated his car's overhead lights and siren, with the Lexus proceeding to switch lanes and accelerate at a high speed.
The Lexus then ran a red light in Independence and proceeded onto I-71 North before exiting at Grant Avenue as the officer followed. The officer was able to get close enough to view a license plate, which returned a Chevrolet.
The chase continued through stride streets before ending up on Broadway Avenue. As the Lexus approached the intersection of Broadway and Miles Avenue, it drove on the wrong side of the road, striking a Lincoln in a crash that disabled both vehicles.
You can view the crash in the video player above.
Following the crash, three occupants exited the Lexus, including a female passenger who exited from the backseat and immediately dropped to the ground. Two males exited from the front passenger door, with one standing by the vehicle and the other taking off on foot.
The officer began to chase after the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Shea Grayson. At one point, a red pickup truck drove onto the sidewalk and struck Shea into a building, but he was able to get up and continue running.
The officer proceeded to deploy his taser, which struck Shea's jacket but didn't penetrate his skin. Shea then fell over and was handcuffed at the scene.
Another officer then alerted the first officer that the Lexus had caught fire and that a firetruck would be needed. Three ambulances were also called for Shea, the woman who exited the vehicle and the driver of the Lincoln, and all three were transported to MetroHealth. The unknown man who also exited the vehicle had run away by this time.
While handcuffed, Shea claimed that it was the other man who was driving the car. The woman who exited the vehicle said "everyone in the car had been drinking and smoking crack."
While attempting to get the car's VIN, the officer observed a Sawzall in the backseat and a catalytic converter in the front passenger seat. The Lexus was then towed to the Seven Hills Police Department for further investigation.
Shea advised that his back was still tingling and could not move. Cleveland EMS confirmed that the probes from the taser did not go into his skin.
Shea was later cited with resisting arrest and obstructing official business. He also had multiple misdemeanor and felony warrants and the agencies with the warrants were advised of his location.
The owner of the Lexus was later identified as a woman who said her car had been stolen.