Marcus Rivers
A high-speed chase that started when an officer tried to stop a vehicle with no tail lights Saturday ended when the vehicle hit another car.
Marcus Rivers, 25, had two outstanding warrants for his arrest when he refused to stop the Chevrolet Yukon he was driving in the area of West 28th Avenue and Hazel Street, Deputy Prosecutor Bryan Achorn said during a court hearing Monday for Rivers.
Achorn said Rivers turned south on Hazel Street and proceeded to West 20th Avenue, where he turned left and took off toward Cherry Street at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour.
Detective Brad Vilches reported that Rivers ran several stop signs during the chase and threw a plastic bag containing a substance that field tested positive for marijuana out the window of the vehicle before turning onto Linden Street.
Achorn said Rivers attempted to make a right turn onto 20th Avenue and hit another vehicle, then jumped out of his vehicle and ran until he was chased down and arrested a yard at 1600 W. 20th Ave.
Vilches reported that the driver of the other vehicle, who was not identified in court, was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center complaining of back and neck injuries. Three children who were in the vehicle were not injured. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6,000.
Achorn said Rivers had previously been convicted of theft by receiving, attempted residential burglary and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was currently on probation in First Division Circuit Court. Petitions have been filed to revoke that probation.
Because of the prior convictions, Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set a $25,000 cash-only bond for Rivers after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge him with felony fleeing.
Achorn said the marijuana that Rivers allegedly threw out of the vehicle was a misdemeanor amount. Rivers was also charged with a number of misdemeanor traffic offenses.
Bridgforth told Rivers, who said he would hire his own attorney, to come back to court Aug. 27.