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Drugs and cash found after police chase suspect
YOUNGSTOWN
Police seized suspected marijuana, heroin and cocaine and more than $1,000 in cash Thursday from a man who led police on a car and foot chase after the suspect ran a red light.
Jerome Prieto, 29, of Wellington Avenue, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine, failure to comply with an order or signal from a police officer, and driving with a suspended license. Officers also cited Prieto for disobeying a traffic signal.
Reports said officer Christopher Staley was on patrol sitting at the intersection of Lansdowne Boulevard and McGuffey Road, waiting for a green traffic signal. Staley said he observed Prieto disregard the red light and drive through the intersection.
Prieto informed Staley that he was arguing with his girlfriend when he ran the red light. When Staley asked Prieto for his license, Prieto said he did not have one, reports said.
While checking Prieto’s background, Staley called for another car to assist at the scene. Before officers could re-approach the vehicle, Prieto put the car in gear and sped away from officers, reports said.
Prieto led officers along various side streets, eventually jumping from the still-moving car near the dead-end of Ives Avenue. Reports said Prieto ran down the hill and through woods, leading to his arrest when Prieto threw a bag of suspected marijuana at Staley and said: “This is why I ran, I swear.”
Officers located two bags of suspected marijuana, one bag of suspected heroin and two bags of suspected crack cocaine while checking the car, as well as $1,244 cash on Prieto.
The passenger in the vehicle, Jessica Stewart, 25, of Alliance, was taken into custody on a warrant from Liberty Township Police Department.