WEST SPRINGFIELD — Police arrested a 20-year-old Springfield man Monday night after he allegedly rammed police cruisers while fleeing in a stolen vehicle.
Maliki Da’Quan Richardson was taken into custody following a pursuit that began at approximately 9:15 p.m. when an officer spotted the stolen vehicle in the drive-through lane of a Wendy’s restaurant on Park Street.
The officer attempted to block the vehicle by positioning his cruiser in front of the stolen car and activating emergency lights.
Richardson allegedly rammed the front of the police cruiser and pushed it back far enough to escape, according to police.
A chase ensued as the driver fled at high speed up Park Street to South Boulevard and North Boulevard.
The pursuit continued as the stolen Subaru ran a red light at Kings Highway and Piper Road.
Police cruisers boxed in the vehicle at one point, but Richardson again drove into a cruiser to push past it, police said.
The chase ended at Prospect Avenue and the entrance to Bear Hole when Richardson lost control on the gravel road and slid into brush.
Richardson exited the vehicle and fled on foot but was apprehended shortly afterward without incident.
He was transported to police headquarters and charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation, failure to stop for a red light, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to wear a seat belt, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.
