LaGrange police arrest man wanted for allegedly almost hitting officer with car
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 15, 2016
LaGRANGE — A motorist who allegedly fled from a traffic check point and nearly struck a group of police officers was captured by investigators with LaGrange Police’s Special Investigation Unit Saturday just before 9:30 p.m.
Marcus Durham remains in the Troup County Jail.
Durham was originally arrested and charged with obstruction and loitering.
According to LaGrange police Lt. Dale Strickland, investigators with SIU and members of the Crime Suppression Unit were “working hard to address crime issues” in the Tall Pines apartment complex at 150 Turner St.
Investigators were slowly approaching the A building on foot when they smelled marijuana and noticed Durham hanging out in the breezeway, sitting under a “No Loitering” sign.
As soon as Durham spotted members of the SIU team, he immediately took off on foot through the apartment complex.
Investigators chased the suspect across two parking lots before he was cornered by CSU members who ran in from the other side of the complex.
Durham was immediately arrested and at first refused to give investigators his name. Then he gave SIU investigators a fake name because he thought the officers were there to arrest him on outstanding warrants.
Durham finally admitted his name and investigators suspected he was the driver who allegedly tried to hit a group of LPD officers March 5 near the intersection of Dallis Street and Truitt Avenue.
According to a police report, Officer Brady Pike’s hand was caught in the vehicle’s driver-side door and he had to “use his right hand to pull loose from the accelerating vehicle.”
Pike stated the vehicle “brushed against his body and his body pack holder was torn from his duty belt.”
SIU investigators placed a 72-hour hold on Durham in the Troup County Jail.
Pike identified Durham on Monday as the person responsible for almost striking him with his vehicle, Strickland said.
