Friday, April 5, 2002
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 22-year-old North Side man faces felony charges of drug trafficking and failure to comply with police after he tried to get away from officers who tried to stop him on the South Side.
Letwan Cherry, of Halleck Street, was arraigned Thursday before Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. of municipal court. The judge ordered cash or surety bonds totaling $12,500 on the felonies, and a $2,000 10 percent bond on a misdemeanor driving under suspension charge, court personnel said. The judge also ordered 10 percent bonds totaling $5,500 on outstanding misdemeanor charges.
Police said they found 15 small bags of suspected crack cocaine in Cherry's pocket after they arrested him.
How it began: Officers said they had attempted to pull Cherry over at Overland and Woodland avenues around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday for playing loud music. Cherry twice pulled over before driving away from officers. He then fled, running stop signs and driving away slowly, slamming his breaks repeatedly as officers followed him, police reports show.
On Plum Street near Mercer Street, he caused officers to hit his car from behind. He left the car and ran. Officers on foot and on bikes chased Cherry, finding him on John Street, hiding in the back of a sport utility vehicle occupied by three other men.