A Thursday night car chase involving an officer from the Columbus Police Department ended in a wreck in North Columbus.
The pursuit began at about 8:30 p.m. when a CPD officer attempted to pull over a Ford Taurus speeding and driving erratically on Martin Luther King Drive, according to Interim CPD Chief Fred Shelton. The officer pursued the car less than one mile before the car hit a light pole at the intersection of 21st Avenue North and Martin Luther King Drive, according to Shelton.
Three people were in the car when it crashed. The driver and the front passenger fled on foot. The rear passenger was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, authorities say.
The rear passenger was identified as De-andre Deshaun Tillman, Shelton said.
Authorities say he was treated and released from the hospital and arrested on multiple charges, including felony possession of a weapon and possession of marijuana. Tillman was also under house arrest from the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time of the crash, according to Shelton.
Police say they found two loaded firearms in the Taurus’ front seat.
The front passenger — who apparently hit the windshield hard enough to break the windshield — was dropped off at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle later that evening with injuries to his face and shoulder. Police have not released his name while they determine whether to charge him with anything, according to Shelton.
Police continued to search for the driver at press time today.
Todd Gale, manager of Columbus Light & Water, told The Dispatch this morning that the crash caused a power outage to homes near Old Lee High School, parts of Cady Hills, Military Road and Martin Luther King Drive.
Gale estimated that around 900 people were affected. The power outage lasted from about 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Employees from CL&W are working to repair the pole. It should be fully repaired by this afternoon, Gale said.
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