Man arrested after police chase and wrong-way accident

(WJW) — A 20-year-old man is facing multiple charges after Lorain County police said he allegedly left the scene of a crash and led officers on a chase before turning onto Interstate 90 in the wrong direction Thursday morning.

According to a press release from the Elyria Police Department, officers were called to the area of ​​Abbe Road and Hilliard Road for a hit-and-run shortly after 5:20 a.m.

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According to the release, the suspect vehicle was a blue 2012 Chevy Cruze, which fled northbound on Abbe Rd N. A Sheffield Village police officer soon called over the radio about the vehicle at the Sheetz in the 5000 block of Detroit Rd.

While turning north onto Abbe Road, an Elyria police officer saw three Sheffield Village Police Department cruisers pursuing the suspect vehicle, which was later discovered to be driven by Geoffrey George.

The Elyria police officer joined the chase, which occurred at about 30 mph.

According to the release, George headed south on Abbe Rd., continued west on Burns Rd. and then turned north on Gulf Rd., where he swerved in and out of the lane of traffic.

“Georges’ driving habits were consistent with being drunk and driving,” the statement said.

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According to the release, in the area of ​​Gulf Rd. and Campagna St., George nearly struck a vehicle head-on and nearly struck several other times. He then turned east onto Detroit Rd.

He then continued west on I-90 in the eastbound lanes. That’s when he nearly crashed head-on with an oncoming vehicle.

The Elyria police officer was then able to position his patrol car in front of George’s vehicle to make it stop. After the vehicles collided, George ran off the road to the left and then back onto the ramp, the release said.

A Sheffield Township police officer collided with George in an attempt to run him off the road, but George managed to continue driving west on I-90 East.

The Elyria police officer caught up to George’s vehicle and collided with it a second time. George was then forced off the road and into the grass, where he came to rest in a ditch, the release said.

George then got out of the vehicle and ran into the woods. Police ordered him to lie down on the ground several times, but he did not comply.

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Finally, the Elyria police officer tased George. He then finally listened to the officer’s commands not to move and put his hands behind his back, according to the statement.

George was then handcuffed and taken to the police car. He was taken into custody by the Sheffield Village Police Department.

Upon searching George’s vehicle, officers found two open cans of VooDoo Ranger beer on the front passenger seat and the vehicle “had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from it,” the statement said.

Geoffrey George was arrested near the 148-mile marker on I-90, south of Detroit Road, at 5:38 a.m. He was charged with failure to comply, obstructing official business, resisting arrest and reckless operation.

According to the statement, George was taken to Elyria University Hospital.

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