Man faces multiple charges after chase

Two state troopers were slightly injured during the chase.

WARREN — A 40-year-old Warren man who police say led them on a chase while he was apparently smoking crack cocaine faces a number of charges.

The chase led police from Warren’s southwest side into Champion Township early Tuesday. Stephen A. Townes of Oregon Avenue Northwest was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle while impaired, failure to control and two counts each of failure to comply with the order of a police officer and driving under suspension.

The charges were filed by city police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

What happened

City police reported that the chase began at Tod Avenue and Fifth Street after they tried to stop a car driven by a man with a female passenger shortly before 12:30 a.m. Police reportedly wanted to pull him over for not using a turn signal.

The pursuit continued for about 17 minutes and led to the state Route 5 and 82 bypass in Champion. One of the patrol officers reported seeing Townes smoking crack cocaine or some other substance while fleeing.

After Townes, who was reportedly driving a stolen car, ran into two highway patrol cars just west of Route 45, he ran out of the car and fled on foot. He later was caught by troopers.

Troopers Lee Sredniawa and Greg Allen were slightly injured. Allen was released after treatment at St. Joseph Health Center. Sredniawa did not require hospital treatment. Townes was treated at St. Joseph’s.

Townes’ passenger, Kimberly J. Gamble, 26, of Willow Drive Southwest, was not cited.