ELYRIA — A 25-year-old Amherst man with outstanding felony warrants was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after a police pursuit ended in a crash at a busy Elyria intersection.
According to the Elyria Police Department, officers attempted to make contact with Denavin Whitman at approximately 3:15 p.m. in the parking lot of Sycamore Suites, located at 621 Midway Blvd. Police said Whitman had active felony warrants for burglary and domestic violence at the time.
Authorities said Whitman fled the scene in a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, nearly striking an officer as he left the parking lot. Officers then initiated a pursuit after Whitman allegedly drove recklessly, posing what police described as a significant danger to the public.
The pursuit ended at the intersection of Murray Ridge Road and Lowell Street when Whitman failed to stop and struck another vehicle.
Whitman was transported to University Hospitals for treatment following the crash. According to police and scanner reports, both drivers involved in the crash were taken to the hospital. Officials said no officers or other motorists were reported injured at the scene.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the crash investigation. Police also noted Whitman’s driver’s license was already suspended at the time of the incident for a prior violation involving failure to comply and fleeing officers.
Whitman was taken into custody following the crash. Further details regarding charges or court proceedings have not yet been released.
