Ferriday man’s run from law ended Monday

Published 11:55 pm Wednesday, February 6, 2013

FERRIDAY — A Ferriday man’s run from the law that led police on three different chases in the last couple of months ended Monday with his arrest.

Ferriday Police Chief Richard Madison said Tyrell James Clark, 21, 1330 Levens Addition Road, was arrested Monday on bench warrants for disturbing the peace, speeding and no seat belt and affidavit warrants for aggravated assault, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, simple burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated flight from officer, careless operation and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon an officer.

James’ bond is set at $105,000.

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The charges stem from several different incidents involving Ferriday police and other agencies.

Madison said police received word of Clark’s whereabouts Monday and were able to arrest him, but not without first having to chase him on foot on Loomis Lane in Clayton.

“He ran into an area where he got stuck, and we were able to apprehend him,” Madison said.

But that is not the first — or even the second — time Clark led police on a chase.

Madison said on Jan. 20, FPD received a call that Clark was in a vehicle that was headed toward the police station. Madison said he and other officers pursued Clark, who led them on a high-speed chase.

“We made numerous attempts with overhead lights to pull him over, and he refused,” Madison said. “He was speeding sometimes in excess of 120 mph, and at one point tried to move my vehicle off the road by pulling his in my direction.”

Clark eventually lost control of the vehicle, jumped out while it was still in gear and fled from police. The car cruised into St. Mark Baptist Church, which Madison said sustained no damage. Madison said a passenger in the vehicle was unaware of Clark’s reason for fleeing from police.

Clark reportedly fled on foot, and Madison said officers were unable to find him.

Several weeks prior to that incident, Madison said police were called to the Concordia Drive residence of Clark’s reported ex-girlfriend. Clark reportedly had taken custody of his ex-girlfriend’s baby, forced his ex-girlfriend underneath the mobile home next door and was throwing bricks at her underneath the home. Madison said police were told Clark is the father of the baby.

When police arrived, Clark reportedly fled on foot, and police were unable to catch him.

Madison said Clark has an extensive criminal history, with past violent crime offenses.

“Several of those crimes are violence against women,” Madison said.