Delaware: Wilmington man charged for attempting to hit police officer with vehicle
The Harrington Police Department arrested a man after he allegedly tried to hit a police officer with his vehicle Sunday evening.
At around 5:45 PM, an officer on patrol tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle failed to stop and began to flee recklessly at a high rate of speed on northbound Route 13. The vehicle then turned onto eastbound Route 14, when it began to travel on the wrong side of the road and pass vehicles on the shoulder.
Due to safety concerns, police ended the pursuit and began to follow the suspect vehicle at a safe distance. The vehicle eventually pulled off into a development located off of Route 14 and slowed down, leading officers to believe he was going to stop. When officers got out of their vehicles to try to take the suspect into custody, the suspect vehicle allegedly accelerated towards an officer and once again fled from officers.
The vehicle made its way back to northbound Route 13, where it began riding in the grass median at a high rate of speed. The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle, hitting a Harrington Police vehicle before coming to a stop in a nearby field.
The driver, identified as 40-year-old Andy J. Leary, and an adult female passenger were both taken into custody. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 6 baggies of heroin and drug paraphernalia. A computer check also revealed that Leary was wanted in New Castle County for violation of probation and failure to appear for arraignment for driving under the influence. He was also wanted out of the State of Pennsylvania for shoplifting and also had a suspended drivers license.
Leary was taken to Kent General Hospital for a blood draw for driving under the influence. The passenger was taken to the Harrington Police Department but was later released and not charged.
Leary was charged with first degree reckless endangering, disregard of a police officer signal, driving under the influence of drugs, resisted arrest, criminal mischief, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and several other traffic violations. He was arraigned and committed to Sussex Correctional Institute in default of $9,709 secured bond.
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