Parma police investigate after fleeing driver crashes into brick wall and disappears
By: -----
Parma, OH - Parma police are investigating after a driver fled from officers during a brief pursuit last week and later crashed into a brick wall near the LaVilla Party Center before running from the scene.
The incident began around 5:50 p.m. on Dec. 2, when officers say they spotted a black Audi sedan with an expired Ohio license plate stopped at a red light on Snow Road, according to police. When the light turned green, the driver abruptly switched lanes into a left-turn lane and cut off another vehicle, prompting officers to activate their lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop.
Police said the driver refused to stop and continued south on Pearl Road before weaving through nearby residential streets, repeatedly failing to stop at stop signs. The vehicle traveled along Westley Drive, Chestnut Hills Drive, Essen Avenue, West 79th Street, Bertha Avenue and Dorothy Avenue before circling back to Snow Road.
Officers reported the Audi was traveling as fast as 75 mph on Snow Road. Due to icy and slushy road conditions and growing traffic, police said the pursuing officer ended the chase near Queens Highway.
Moments later, dispatchers received reports of a vehicle traveling north on Chevrolet Boulevard that had crashed into a wall at LaVilla Party Center at 11500 Brookpark Road. Officers arrived to find the same Audi heavily damaged in the parking lot and a brick wall partially destroyed.
Witnesses told police they saw a man run from the vehicle toward nearby railroad tracks. Officers searched the surrounding area, including nearby businesses and vacant lots, but were unable to locate the driver.
The registered owner of the Audi told officers she sold the car to a man in July, though state records still listed her as the most recent owner, police said.
Surveillance video at LaVilla showed a white station-wagon-style vehicle entering the lot moments after the crash, heading toward the direction the suspect fled. Police later reviewed traffic cameras and identified what appeared to be a white Volkswagen Taos with an Ohio license plate in the area around 5:56 p.m. The vehicle left roughly a minute later.
While preparing the Audi to be towed, officers reported finding suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside. The car was taken to the Parma Police Department for processing.