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Man gets 18 months for running from cops
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man arrested for running from police last September in a chase that broke an officer’s hand was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Despite a plea for leniency from Allen Lee, 43, of Hudson Avenue, and a talk by his pastor, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum said Thursday he decided on a prison sentence because people need to learn to respect authority.
Lee pleaded guilty in October to charges of obstructing official business and failure to comply. Prosecutors had agreed to stand silent as part of their plea agreement.
Lee was free on bond pending sentencing.
Police said Lee failed to pull over about 11:45 p.m. Sept. 1 for officer Marcin Stachowicz, who reports said saw a car Lee was driving run a stop sign at Erie Street and East Ravenwood Avenue on the South Side.
Reports said Lee led officers on a chase that traversed almost the entire South Side, at some points driving into oncoming traffic or driving left of center. He disregarded several stop signs and red lights, and at one point seemed to intentionally hit a car, which in turn smashed into a pole at West Warren and Glenwood avenues.
It was also at West Warren and Glenwood where officer Michael Sobinovsky put down a pair of spike strips that punctured all four of the tires on the car Lee was driving. Lee, however, refused to stop and drove on his rims, which damaged some recently paved streets in the area, reports said.
The car Lee was driving crashed into a guardrail in Mill Creek Park and tumbled down a ravine. A child was in the car but not hurt. While trying to arrest Lee, officer Kenneth Garling broke his hand, reports said.
In court, Lee, who has a prior criminal record, said he was sorry for what he had done and he had no excuse for his actions.
“How can you run from the cops with your record?” Judge Krichbaum asked.
Lee said he is a changed man as did his pastor, who told the judge Lee is a different person since he has been attending his church.
“I’m working now,” Lee said. “I’ve changed my life. I found God when I was locked up, sir.”
Judge Krichbaum said he hears of religious transformations all the time.
“I’ve often said Jesus lives in the Mahoning County jail because everyone goes there and finds him,” Judge Krichbaum said.
Lee was convicted in municipal court of aggravated vehicular homicide for the Oct. 29 death of 61-year-old Earl Douthitt.
Douthitt was killed by a van driven by Lee, as he was raking leaves in the front yard of his Glenwood Avenue home. Police said the van was traveling south on Glenwood Avenue when Lee lost control between Willis and Delason avenues and hit Douthitt. Lee told Judge Krichbaum his tires blew out at the time of the accident.