Police approached the vehicle after they determined that it was not registered.
Domenic Fowler
SPRINGFIELD -- Police arrested a 30-year-old Springfield man early Wednesday after he allegedly led them on what they described as a “low-speed chase” in the McKnight neighborhood.
The incident began shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday when officers Joseph Dunn and Matthew Longo spotted a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer heading east on Worthington Street, Sgt. John M. Delaney said.
Police ran the plate, determined that the vehicle was not registered and watched as it pulled into the parking lot of M.J.'s Pizza at 955 Worthington St. and stopped.
When the officers got out of their cruiser to investigate, the suspect pulled away in the vehicle, jumping the curb at the parking lot at a high rate of speed. The impact flattened the vehicle's tires, said Delaney, aide to Commissioner William J. Fitchet.
“At speeds hitting 15 mph, the officers tailed the Mountaineer until it couldn’t drive anymore on the metal rims,” Delaney said, adding that the vehicle stopped on Ingersoll Grove .
The suspect, Domenic Fowler, 36, of 50 Ingersoll Grove, fought briefly with the officers before they were able to handcuff him, Delaney said.
Police found crack cocaine inside the Mountaineer after the arrest, Delaney said.
Fowler was charged with refusing to stop for police, two counts of failure to yield, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating without a license (second offense), and possession of crack cocaine.
Police believe the Mountaineer may have been stolen, Delaney said. They were not able to contact the owner after Fowler was arrested.