A 30-year-old Cleveland man wanted on drug-trafficking and obstruction warrants led Berea police on a cross-city pursuit Sunday that ended with a wrecked SUV near Puritas Avenue and West 160th Street in Cleveland. A 22-year-old Cleveland woman riding in the Toyota RAV4 was injured in the crash and taken to Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital for treatment, authorities said. Berea officers reported calling off their pursuit before Ohio state troopers continued to follow the SUV, which later crashed in the Puritas area.
Chase ended on Puritas Avenue
According to Cleveland.com, Berea officers said the RAV4 blew through multiple red lights and a stop sign and was clocked at roughly 67 mph in a 25-mph zone while it was still in their city. After Berea police terminated their pursuit, the Ohio State Highway Patrol picked up the follow, tracking the SUV into Cleveland until it crashed on Puritas Avenue near West 160th.
Why cross-jurisdiction pursuits worry neighbors
High-speed pursuits that jump from suburb to city have come under fresh scrutiny in the Cleveland area, as residents and oversight groups question whether chasing fleeing drivers is worth the risk to people who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A May chase that rolled into Slavic Village was one of several incidents that have helped fuel calls for tighter pursuit rules and stronger community oversight.
What officers say they found
Investigators who searched the wrecked RAV4 recovered a loaded handgun inside the vehicle and another loaded firearm in the passenger’s purse, along with a small plastic bag containing white powder, a separate bag of pink powder, suspected amphetamine pills, two small digital scales and about 7 grams of suspected crack cocaine, according to Cleveland.com. Police also said they found the driver’s identification and a notice to appear in Berea Municipal Court. At the hospital, the woman identified the driver and told officers the handgun in her purse had been shoved there after the crash.
What happens next
Berea police said the man was already wanted in Cuyahoga County on drug-trafficking and obstruction charges and had violated probation in a robbery case. Investigators are processing the evidence from the crash scene and the SUV, which will be forwarded to prosecutors for review as the case moves toward potential new charges. Authorities also asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact investigators.
