Man faces felony gun charges after car chase with police in Youngstown
A seemingly routine traffic stop at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening on High Street in Youngstown, resulted in a car chase and gun charge.
The police report states that State Highway Patrol officers observed a gray 2011 Dodge Durango fail to signal while turning westbound on High Street in Youngstown and activated the overhead lights and sirens.
The Durango pulled up to a gas pump at the Marathon gas station on High St and came to a stop. The report states that the officers exited the cruiser and began approaching the Durango when it sped off to evade the police. The officers advised Youngstown police of the pursuit and began to pursue the evading vehicle.
According to the report, the Durango led police on a chase southbound on Rockview Avenue crossing Mercer Street where it left the roadway and into a field. The vehicle pulled up to a fence surrounding the field and the suspect, later identified as Keontae Thomas, exited the Durango and jumped the fence.
Where did police find the suspect?
The report states that Thomas was apprehended in the wooded area between Hawthorne St and Fairview Ave after a short foot chase.
When doing an inventory of the Durango, officers found a black satchel on the floorboard underneath the driver’s seat containing a Glock pistol. The report states that the gun had a live round in the chamber and a loaded magazine. It also had a “Glock Switch,” which allows the pistol to fire fully automatic.
The report states a criminal background check on Thomas revealed in 2016, he was prohibited from being in possession of firearms.
Thomas was transported to the Mahoning County Jail and booked for felony charges of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, having weapons while under disability, and unlawful possession of dangerous ordinance. He was also charged with misdemeanors for obstructing official business and failure to comply, as well as the traffic citation for stop and turn signals, according to the report. Thomas is expected to appear in Youngstown Municipal Court at 9 a.m. on April 26.