Suspect captured after hourlong police chase

Bond was set at $6,500 during the suspect’s video arraignment.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — An hourlong police pursuit went from the South Side to the East Side, and back to the South Side, and didn’t end until spike strips were used — twice.

Twana D. Johnson, 34, of Eastern Avenue, was arrested around 3:15 a.m. Friday. Johnson is charged with driving under suspension, failure to comply with a police order, resisting arrest, drug abuse marijuana, cracked windshield and no license plate light. Johnson’s bond was set at $6,500 during his video arraignment Friday in municipal court.

The pursuit began at 2:10 a.m. when Patrolman Michael Anderson attempted to pull over an Oldsmobile on Interstate 680 southbound that had a cracked windshield and no license plate light. Instead, the car continued to the Market Street exit and traveled south.

After covering most South Side streets, the car headed to the East Side, and the pursuit continued, with the driver, later identified as Johnson, running stop signs and red lights, police said. Once back on the South Side, the car traveled through a corner lot on Hillman Street and knocked down a “No trucks” sign.

Spike strips laid on West Dewey Avenue disabled the front passenger tire on the Oldsmobile, but it continued to Heasley Street, where a second set of spike strips punctured the left front tire.

Johnson bailed out and tried to run but was caught and then got free. He was then tackled by police after a foot pursuit and arrested. At the jail, a bag of suspected marijuana was found in his shirt pocket, police said.