A routine traffic stop escalated into a vehicle pursuit, crash, and arrest Wednesday evening after a driver allegedly fled police and discarded illegal drugs from his vehicle.
At approximately 7:00 p.m, officers observed a silver Dodge Challenger fail to stop before exiting a parking lot at 1624 Haines Avenue, according to police. Officers initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Curtis Street and Haines Avenue, but the driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit.
During the chase, officers reported seeing an object thrown from the vehicle’s window in the 900 block of Haines Avenue. The suspect then continued eastbound on Van Buren Street at a high rate of speed. For safety reasons, police terminated the pursuit shortly thereafter.
Moments after the pursuit was called off, the suspect vehicle collided with a commercial truck near the intersection of Van Buren Street and North Lacrosse Street. Authorities reported no injuries resulting from the crash.
The driver, identified as 39-year-old William Andrews of Rapid City, fled the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers following a brief chase. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Police later recovered the item allegedly thrown from the vehicle and determined it contained methamphetamine and related drug paraphernalia.
Following the investigation, Andrews was arrested and booked on multiple charges.
The incident remains under investigation.
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