After chase, police catch suspect in traffic offenses

AUSTINTOWN -- Township police chased a car that they said tried to evade a traffic stop.
The driver, John A. Smith, 25, 3852 Ayreshire Drive, has been charged with fleeing and eluding, a third-degree felony, and other misdemeanor charges.
He pleaded innocent in Mahoning County Area Court here Thursday to the misdemeanors. No pleas are entered at arraignments for felony charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m.
The chase began at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday in the 3800 block of Ayreshire, says a police report.
Car recognized
The report said an officer recognized the car as one that had fled from an attempted traffic stop Saturday. The officer tried to get behind the car to stop it, but the car sped off toward Edinburgh Drive.
The officer followed the car to Edinburgh, then onto Yolanda Place, then back onto Ayreshire. The chase led back to Edinburgh, and when the car ran a stop sign and turned right onto Meridian, the officer turned on his light and siren. The car still didn't stop, the report said.
Chase is on
The car traveled Meridian at a high speed, weaving in traffic recklessly, and there were several school buses and students in the area, the report said.
The car appeared to be heading toward a dead-end on Glen Oaks Drive, in Youngstown, so the officer followed the car there.
The suspect got out of the car and ran into a wooded area, the report said. A passenger in the car was arrested.
After another officer arrived and secured the passenger, the first officer searched for Smith in the woods, the report said. Youngstown officers got a description of him and found him coming out of the woods onto Schenley Avenue. He was taken to the Mahoning County jail.
The passenger is not facing charges.
Other charges
Smith also was wanted on a warrant from Mahoning County Court for failure to appear on other traffic charges. The warrant, dated Sept. 19, listed charges of driving under suspension because of lack of insurance, fictitious registration, speeding and headlights not working.
Besides the felony charge of fleeing and eluding, charges stemming from the Wednesday chase are resisting arrest, a sixth offense of driving without insurance and failure to display two license plates.