Youngstown man faces charges in police pursuit

The driver’s license is under suspension for not having insurance.

YOUNGSTOWN — Allan M. Williams’ 4-month-old baby was in the back seat of a moving car that police said Williams jumped from to avoid capture.

The chase started on the South Side around 10:15 a.m. Sunday on Laclede Avenue when Williams, 18, of West Florida Avenue, failed to stop for a stop sign and failed to signal a turn, police said. Patrolmen Richard Baldwin and Dave Wilson, in separate cruisers, pursued the 1990 Oldsmobile.

Reports show the driver, later identified as Williams, sped up and led police north on Oak Hill Avenue, east on Dewey Avenue, south on Market Street, west on Laclede, north on Glenwood Avenue, east on Evergreen Avenue — failing to stop for any traffic devices along the way and driving left of center. Police said he almost caused several accidents.

Jumping from the car

The car eventually pulled into a driveway in the 1900 block of Summer Street, and Williams jumped out.

The car continued down the driveway, with the baby’s mother leaning over the front seat.

Wilson, anticipating a foot pursuit, had driven onto the sidewalk through the side lot and positioned his cruiser behind the house. He was just getting out when he saw the driverless car coming down the driveway and got back in his cruiser to move it and avoid a crash.

The 1990 Oldsmobile did strike the cruiser’s front end but did minimal damage. The woman in the Olds identified the driver as Williams, her baby’s father.

Williams was taken to jail and the car was towed.

He faces charges of driving under suspension, reckless operation, fleeing and eluding, child endangering, no seat belt and failure to signal a turn. The suspension is based on failure to have insurance, reports show.

He was expected to be arraigned today in municipal court.