Staff report

LIBERTY — A Youngstown man who led Liberty police on a chase through the township Wednesday afternoon made an appearance in Girard Municipal Court Thursday.

Alvin Tucker, 39, pleaded not guilty to charges of failure to comply and resisting arrest.

According to a Liberty police report, officers received a “be on the lookout” alert from Warren police about a gold Chevrolet Impala, which was last seen near state Routes 82 and 11 when Warren officers stopped pursuit.

A Liberty officer conducting a stationary laser patrol on Anderson Morris Road and Route 11 later reported that the Impala had passed through at speeds of 102 mph.

The report states they checked the car’s registration, which had temporary plates and revealed the car belonged to Lebron Charles Matthew. Officers knew it was a suspect vehicle involving Tucker, however, who had nationwide felony warrants through the Adult Parole Authority.

Officers added the Adult Parole Authority noted Tucker as “armed and dangerous”, allegedly having violent tendencies with previous cases involving resisting arrest and discharging a firearm.

Two officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, which traveled westbound on Gypsy Lane at speeds exceeding 80 mph before making a left turn and traveling south on Dearborn Street, making turns onto Dupont Street and Stansbury Drive along the way. Officers were eventually able to “positively” identify the driver as Tucker when he momentarily slowed down, according to the report.

The report states Tucker made a left turn at the Sloane Avenue intersection and was traveling southbound until approaching a large gas well, striking a grass mound and causing severe damage to the vehicle before continuing into an open field. He eventually drove into a wooded tree line and left the car.

The reporting officer noticed Tucker reaching into his waistband, and because of information about him potentially being armed, warned him that he had a K-9 and told him to get on the ground. Tucker continued to run, however, and the K-9 was deployed, apprehending him by his lower leg.

The report states that the Impala’s passengers, Alexandra Jones of Youngstown and Jeffery Wright of Lincoln Park, Michigan, were also detained. It was revealed Wright had an extradition warrant through Michigan, but he was released after the state declined to extradite him.

Tucker was escorted out of the tree line in handcuffs after a sergeant arrived, and a requested ambulance checked him for injuries. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for treatment and later transported to the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office on his active warrants and charges.

Tucker is set to appear in Girard Municipal Court at 9 a.m. Wednesday. He has a pre-trial set for the same day at 1:30 p.m. in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for a theft warrant, court records show.