Man arrested after police chase, wrong-way crash

(WJW) – A 20-year-old man is facing several charges after police in Lorain County said he allegedly left the scene of a crash and led officers on a chase before he got onto Interstate 90 going to wrong way Thursday morning.

According to a press release from the Elyria Police Department, officers were called to the area of Abbe Road and Hilliard Road for a hit-and-run just after 5:20 a.m.

According to the release, a suspect vehicle was a blue 2012 Chevy Cruze, which fled northbound on Abbe Rd N. A Sheffield Village officer soon yelled on their radio about the vehicle at the Sheetz on the 5000 block of Detroit Rd.

While turning north onto Abbe Road, an Elyria officer saw three Sheffield Village PD cruisers chasing the suspect vehicle, which was later learned to have been driven by Geoffrey George.

The Elyria officer joined the pursuit, which going about 30 mph.

According to the release, George went south on Abbe Rd., continued westbound on Burns Rd. and then turned north onto Gulf Rd. where he weaved in and out of his traffic lane.

“Georges’s driving habits were consistent with being intoxicated while driving,” the release said.

According to the release, in the area of Gulf Rd. and Campagna St., George nearly hit a vehicle head-on and then nearly crashed several other times. He then turned east onto Detroit Rd.

He then continued west on I-90 in the eastbound lanes. That is when he nearly went head-on with an oncoming vehicle.

The Elyria officer was then able to position his patrol car in front of George’s vehicle to make it come to a stop. After the vehicles collided, George went off the road to the left and then got back onto the ramp, the release said.

A Sheffield Village officer then collided with George in an attempt to get him off the road, but George was able to continue driving west on I-90 East.

The Elyria officer caught up with George’s vehicle and collided with it a second time. George was then forced off the roadway and into the grass where it came to a stop in a ditch, the release said.

George then got out of the vehicle and ran into the woods. He was ordered by police to get on the ground multiple times but did not comply.

Eventually, the Elyria police officer tased George. He then eventually listened to the officer’s commands to not move and put his hands behind his back, According to the release.

George was then put into handcuffs and was carried to the police car. He was taken into custody by the Sheffield Village Police Department.

While searching George’s vehicle, officers found two opened VooDoo Ranger beer cans in the front passenger seat and the vehicle “had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from it,” the release said.

Geoffrey George was arrested near the 148 mile marker I-90 just south of Detroit Road at 5:38 a.m. He was charged with failure to comply, obstructing official business, resisting arrest and reckless operation

According to the release, George was taken to University Hospitals Elyria.

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