A late-night traffic patrol by the Picayune Police Department resulted in the pursuit of an intoxicated driver through a residential area.
On Jan. 20 at 11:50 p.m., a Picayune Police officer observed a green Toyota heading north on Highway 11 with no tag light, a departmental press release states.
The officer attempted a traffic stop near Carroll Street where the driver, later identified as Christopher Jerome Pounds, 37, of 1010 Magnolia Court, Magnolia, Miss., performed a U-turn in a local business parking lot. At that time, the officer turned on his emergency sirens, the release states.
Pounds began driving south on Highway 11, failing to stop for lights and sirens while traveling in the middle of the highway, forcing oncoming traffic to move to side of the road, according to the release.
Pounds began traveling at a high rate of speed and turned left on Eighth Street, then south on North Haugh Avenue where the officer observed Pounds swerving in both lanes of traffic before turning east on Fifth Street where Pounds continued to drive in a reckless manner, the release states.
Pounds then turned north onto North Jackson where he opened the door as if to abandon the vehicle. Instead, with the driver’s door still open, Pounds turned west onto Palm Street, the release states.
Pounds crossed a ditch at Palm Street and Evergreen Avenue where the vehicle came to a stop, damaging a property owner’s fence. Pounds attempted to flee on foot, despite officers’ commands to stop, according to the release.
When backup officers arrived on scene, Pounds was found lying near the wood line near the 400 block of Seventh Street. Pounds was apprehended and taken into custody, the release states.
Pounds refused to submit to a breathalyzer test, and was arrested for DUI, failure to stop a motor vehicle when officer signals, driving while license suspended, resisting arrest, no proof of insurance, improper equipment, malicious mischief, reckless driving and driving in more than one lane, according to arrest reports.