POLICE CHASE Drug Investigation Sparked Police Chase That Ended In Crash
Reported by: Leslie Rubin
Videographer: Troy Morgan
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Reported: Apr. 6, 2012 10:08 PM EDT
Updated: Apr. 6, 2012 10:24 PM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Marmet
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
An ongoing drug investigation escalates into a wild police chase, and Eyewitness News cameras were the first on scene to see it all unfold.
The chase started just before 1:00 p.m. Friday on I-77 South. Two men wanted in connection with a drug investigation fled when Metro Drug Unit officers tried to pull them over.
K-9's, a car crash, and two men who didn't get far, but before the scene unfolded, it was a search warrant executed at 1411 Jackson Street on Charleston's east end that sparked the wild chase.
"During that search they located an amount of drug evidence that led to an arrest of a person that was there on the scene," explained Sgt. Keith Peoples.
Zack McClendon III is now facing felony drug charges after police found marijuana and Loratab pills in the home, but it wasn't case closed. Police were still on the hunt for more suspects who were supposed to be driving a Buick Reatta.
"They located two other targets they were looking for," said Peoples.
Police spotted the car on I-77 near Kanawha City, but the two men inside took off, reaching speeds of 110 miles per hour before slamming into a guardrail off the Marmet exit.
"Once they crashed they both exited the vehicle and took off on foot," said Peoples.
K-9's tracked down Billy Gene Reed and Donte Hamilton near the Exxon gas station. Bruised and bleeding, the two men were sent to the hospital.
"There's possibly some other suspects that warrants may be obtained for," said Peoples.
In the end, two puppies who were along for the wild rise, were the only ones who walked away not hurt.
There is no word yet on all the charges Reed and Hamilton will face. McClendon is in jail.
WVU gets gifts to support education lab May 25, 2013 3:05 PM EDT About $500,000 in private gifts is helping to support science, technology, engineering and math education programs at West Virginia University.
Sheriff: 12 hurt in Ohio ride derailment May 25, 2013 7:06 PM EDT Authorities say a dozen people with minor injuries sustained minor injuries when a train ride at an eastern Ohio farm attraction went off the rails.