Driver smashes into cars, leads police on chase across Phoenix area
May 22, 2015, 7:19 AM | Updated: 9:14 am
MESA, Arizona — Overnight crime scenes stretched from Scottsdale to Mesa after police finally caught a driver who had been ramming other vehicles.
The driver was shot by officers near Baseline Road and Country Club Drive late Thursday but that didn’t stop him.
He was caught in a Mesa backyard after crashing a truck suspected to have been stolen and fleeing on foot before he was eventually caught.
He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
“Having officers trying to stop him with marked vehicles, lights flashing, sirens, being shot several times had no effect on him. He was not going to give up,” Scottsdale Sgt. Ben Hoster said.
Police said starting around 10:30 p.m., the driver crashed into two cars in Scottsdale and three more on a freeway.
Scottsdale police followed the suspect to a car wash at Scottsdale and McKellips roads.
The suspect tried to run over the officer, who shot him. The driver took off, leading police on a chase before crashing the truck off Country Club Lane.