A Columbus man evaded capture after leading local law enforcement agents on a foot pursuit Friday night.
A number of charges are pending against Craivion Johnson, 22, although he is not in police custody, according to a release from Marysville Police Department Chief Tony Brooks.
The release indicated that an MPD officer initiated a traffic stop with a white Nissan Altima in the 100 block of Second Street at approximately 10:52 p.m. Friday.
The driver, who was later identified as Johnson, “quickly pulled into a residence in an attempt to avoid the officer,” the release stated.
Officers learned that the vehicle was registered to Johnson, who has two active warrants for his arrest.
At that point, Johnson “quickly exited the vehicle and gave the officer a fictitious name,” Brooks’ statement read.
Once the officer confirmed the outstanding warrants, the officer attempted to take Johnson into custody, but he “pulled away and tried to flee back to the vehicle,” the statement detailed.
Brooks wrote that the officer was able to wrestle Johnson away from the vehicle and a struggle ensued. Johnson was able to break free from the officer’s grasp and fled southbound between houses.
“The officer gave chase, but the suspect was able to elude the officer and responding units,” the statement included, adding that “additional resources from the Union County Sheriff’s Office were utilized to search for the suspect but he was not found.”
According to police reports, a number of items were seized from the vehicle, including: marijuana “in a glass jar, plastic wrapping and two small baggies,” which Brooks referred to in his statement as a “significant amount… packaged for sale.”
A loaded 9-mm Smith & Wesson Luger was also found in the center console during an inventory search, according to Brooks’ statement.
He noted that Johnson had a previous conviction for armed robbery, which would have prevented him from carrying a firearm legally.
Police reports indicated ammo, firearm accessories, drug equipment, a backpack, two iPhones, $1,430 in cash and credit/debit cards were also seized by MPD.
Charges for resisting arrest, drug trafficking, possession of a firearm under disability “and others” are pending against Johnson, according to the MPD statement.