FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A driver who led Fort Wayne Police on a speedy pursuit on the northeast side Wednesday was arrested after allegedly hitting an officer with a bag of cocaine.
Demarcus Thomas faces preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and fleeing in a vehicle, resisting law enforcement causing injury, battery committed with a deadly weapon, and two counts of dealing in cocaine or narcotic drugs.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m., FWPD spotted a pickup truck that drove past a stop sign near Rothman and Reed roads. Officers initiated a traffic stop near St. Joe Center Road, but the truck driver didn’t pull over, instead starting a chase that reached more than 100 mph, according to a release from FWPD.
Eventually, the driver lost control near Stellhorn and Hobson roads, hitting a median, a curb and a tree, the release said.
The driver, later identified as Thomas, is then accused of getting out of the truck and physically fighting officers. He allegedly hit an officer in the face with a grocery bag, covering his face and uniform with a white, powdery substance that was released from the bag.
When Thomas was taken into custody, he told police the powdery substance was cocaine, according to the release.
Both the officer and suspect were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
