Police in Cleveland arrested a driver and his passenger after a head-on collision involving the man’s rental car and a police cruiser. A search of the allegedly stolen rental car reportedly revealed drugs, a scale and cash. Police charged the driver with several felonies in connection with a police chase and the items discovered in the rental car.
Police were pursuing the driver, who is from Cleveland, because he was reportedly wanted for being in contempt of court. An officer in an unmarked car spotted the man and a chase ensued. According to police, the driver avoided colliding with one police vehicle, but then supposedly aimed for another vehicle coming directly at him. The two vehicles collided head-on.
The police say the driver fled the scene and that they arrested him after a short foot pursuit. The passenger was arrested at the scene. Each man claimed the drugs found in the vehicle belonged to the other. Court documents indicate the passenger already has drug charges pending against him, stemming from an arrest in Sept. 2013.
Regardless of the criminal history of either man, both are deemed innocent in before the court until and unless the prosecution can prove their guilt concerning the current felonies with which they have been charged. To ensure that the legal rights of each man are protected at every stage of the proceedings, the defense teams will likely conduct a careful review of the court record, the evidence which prosecutors intend to present and the police procedures both before and subsequent to the arrests. In doing so, decisions can be made about the best course of action for each man in defending against the criminal charges.
Source: cleveland.com, Cleveland man accused of ramming police car head-on with stolen rental car on West Side, Cory Shaffer, Jan. 10, 2014