Minden Police officers searching for passenger 

A slow-moving chase through Minden Monday night ended with the driver of the fleeing vehicle being taken into custody. The search for the passenger who bailed continues.

Gregory D. Smith, 31, of the 700 block of Plum Street, was arrested July 26 and charged with driving under suspension, driving while intoxicated second offense, flight from an officer and failure to dim headlights.

The pursuit began when Minden Lt. Tim Morris came in contact with a 1995 Oldsmobile on I-20.

“Lt. Morris was returning to Minden after conducting a prisoner transfer to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional when the suspect vehicle got behind him on I-20,” said Minden Police Chief T.C. Bloxom. “The driver had his high beams on and it blinded the officer.”

Lt. Morris pulled to the shoulder of the highway and let the vehicle pass. He then attempted to initiate a traffic stop in order to tell the driver to dim his lights.

“The driver refused to stop and exited I-20 at the Minden/Sibley exit,” Bloxom said. “The car then continued into Minden, ignoring the officer’s lights and siren.”

The driver of the vehicle reportedly traveled between 30 to 35 miles per hour down Industrial Drive and Talton Street where he ran a stop sign. He then led patrol officers along Theus Street where he maneuvered around a road block.

“Smith turned onto Lewis Street, which is a dead end,” Bloxom said. “When he came to a stop, he tapped Officer Ryan Barnette’s patrol car, ultimately pinning his own door shut.”

Smith was unable to exit his vehicle, but the passenger bailed and fled the scene on foot.

“Minden Officer Bo Turner, his K-9 Partner Kash and Webster Parish deputies conducted an extensive, approximate two-hour search of the area, but were unable to located the passenger,” Morris said.

According to reports, cigar tobacco was discovered in the passenger seat and Smith told authorities that he and the man who fled on foot had been consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana.

Smith was placed under arrest and taken to police headquarters where he registered at .165 on a Breathalyzer test.
Bloxom said the city patrol unit suffered only minor damages described as paint transfer.

Smith reportedly provided authorities with the alleged name of his passenger, who according to records is a Minden resident.

A search for that person, described as a black male wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jean shorts and estimated at five foot, 10 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this subject is asked to contact police headquarters at 371-4226.

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