CLEVELAND — Two men from Lorain are in custody after police say they led officers on a chase in an allegedly stolen car Friday night.
According to a spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the driver, Darius Blakely, 26, and passenger, 24-year-old Camari Pulliam, were arrested after they allegedly fled on foot following the pursuit.
The pursuit began just before 8:30 p.m. after Elyria police saw a white Dodge Charger "operating recklessly" and initiated a traffic stop at Midway Boulevard near West River Road in Elyria.
Police say the Charger did not stop, leading to a brief chase as the Charger fled northbound on West River Road. The OSHP's Aviation Section followed the Charger from overhead and officers ended the chase.
The OSHP alleges that Blakely continued to drive recklessly even when not being chased by police on the ground.
Troopers attempted to stop the Charger with a tire deflation device at the intersection of Station Road and State Route 57 in York Township, but the Blakely avoided the device by going off the roadway where the Charger hit a ditch and a stop sign before continuing north on Station Road.
Eventually, the Charger came to a stop on Columbia Road south of State Route 303 in Valley City, and Blakely and Pulliam allegedly ran away from the car. The Aviation officers continued to track the suspects until police on the ground took them into custody.
Police discovered that the car had recently been reported as stolen out of Cleveland. Police allege the car had been taken at gunpoint.
Blakely was taken to the Lorain County Jail, while Pulliam was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure.
Elyria police are continuing to investigate the incident.
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