Published: September 24, 2008 01:09 am            

Man jailed after chase

PALESTINE — A 23-year-old Elkhart man was in the Anderson County Jail Tuesday on a trio of charges after he allegedly fled from a sheriff’s deputy who had initially attempted to stop his vehicle for a traffic violation one day earlier.

As of late Tuesday morning, William Lee Spafford III, 23, of Elkhart remained in the jail on charges of evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest or transport, in addition to a motion to revoke charge on an original charge of possession of a controlled substance between 4-to-200 grams, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor. 

Spafford was ultimately taken into custody off of FM 645 in the Tennessee Colony area following a brief scuffle with an officer around 9:15 p.m. Monday, according to Taylor. The suspect had fled on foot after slamming on his brakes and causing the deputy’s squad car to strike his vehicle from behind, the sheriff added.

Shortly after 9:05 p.m. Monday, Taylor said sheriff’s deputy Ronnie Howell attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2001 Mercury Sabre near the intersection of Court Drive and Bassett Road “for failure to yield the right of way.” 

The vehicle’s driver turned on to CR 2202 — also known as Salt Works Road — and stopped his vehicle in the general vicinity of the Westwood Elementary School, the sheriff stated. 

“The deputy gets out, approaches the vehicle and the driver accelerates away,” Taylor said. “Howell, of course, gets back in his car and gives chase.”

The suspect who was subsequently identified as Spafford, turned north on CR 425 before turning west on FM 320 and then north on FM 645, according to the sheriff. 

With the suspect driving at “unsafe speeds,” the pursuit spanned approximately “seven or eight miles” until Spafford allegedly “stops abruptly and our vehicle collided with his vehicle,” knocking the back bumper off of the suspect’s vehicle, Taylor said. 

“The subject (Spafford) exited the vehicle and flees on foot behind a residence there,” the sheriff stated.

Howell subsequently caught up to the suspect, Taylor said. 

“After a struggle with the use of pepper spray, the subject was taken into custody,” Taylor said. 

Spafford was “decontaminated” at the scene by Emergency Medical Services personnel before being transported to the Anderson County Jail, according to the sheriff. 

“He (Spafford) appeared to be delusional...stating that the Mexican Mafia was after him,” Taylor said. 

During a search of Spafford’s vehicle, the sheriff said officers discovered some drug paraphernalia, including a needle. 

Howell, meanwhile, was treated and released at the Palestine Regional Medical Center emergency room for sore ribs and other minor injuries.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com

        

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