Traffic stop leads to chase, shooting in Lorman

Published 12:10 am Monday, September 29, 2014

LORMAN (AP) — A man crashed his car trying to evade a traffic stop, then allegedly sped off in the deputy’s squad car — only to return in a third vehicle and shoot at deputies and people nearby, Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Walker said.

None of the bullets hit anybody, Walker said.

It was not clear whether the man, identified as Peter Robinson, had an attorney. A call and email to the sheriff’s office were not immediately returned Sunday.

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Walker said Robinson was captured after a search with dogs and faces charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, felony taking a motor vehicle and possessing drugs with intent to distribute them.

“Never dealt with a situation where a person would steal a vehicle and return to the scene and fire shots. That’s very unusual,” the sheriff said.

Walker said the incident started about 3 a.m. Saturday, when a deputy tried to pull over a car swerving erratically on U.S. 61 in Lorman.

He said the car zoomed away but hit an embankment near The Old Country Store. The driver ran off but his passenger surrendered, Walker said. While the deputy was questioning the passenger, Walker said, Robertson allegedly returned, jumped into the patrol car and sped off. The patrol car was later found wrecked in a ditch.

It took 90 minutes to find Robinson, the sheriff said.

He said marijuana, nearly $2,000 in cash, ammunition, knives and pills were in Robinson’s car.