Published: June 11, 2009 11:20 am      

Police arrest man after chase ends in DeWitt

CLINTON — Officers from the Clinton, Camanche and DeWitt police departments were involved in a high-speed car chase that began around 12:30 a.m. today.

According to a court affidavit, Lemarcus Wright, 24, of Davenport, was charged with eluding police officers following the chase.

The chase began in Clinton, with officers pursuing Wright, who they say refused to stop. During pursuit, Clinton officers requested that Camanche officers place stop sticks at U.S. 30 and Manufacturing Drive.

Due to the Camanche officers’ location, they placed stop sticks at the intersection of Valley West Court and Manufacturing Drive.

Wright avoided the stop sticks and continued to flee. He turned off Mill Creek Parkway onto U.S. 30 and proceeded to travel westbound in the eastbound lanes, police say.

Clinton police terminated their pursuit, while Camanche police continued to follow Wright with lights and sirens activated. Camanche police remained in westbound lanes as they traveled at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.

Camanche police say they observed Wright traveling with his headlamps turned off, but that he would turn them on when meeting oncoming traffic.

An officer with the DeWitt Police Department set up stop sticks on U.S. 30, just east of the Sixth Avenue exit.

Wright hit the stop sticks and continued for a short distance. Once the vehicle stopped, several units from multiple agencies arrived to assist. Wright was arrested for eluding police officers, driving while suspended, on his outstanding warrants and for several traffic violations.

Two occupants in the vehicle were checked and released.