30-year-old Mark Wilkie was charged with 2 counts of evading arrest, 2 counts of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, driving on revoked 3rd offense, fraud/ failure to provide title, unlawful drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine violation after leading police on a high-speed pursuit that ended with him jumping the curb and crashing into phone boxes.
On January 6th, Officer Ryan Wright was on routine patrol of the Purple Heart Parkway and Lafayette Road area when he observed a red Mitsubishi drive through the intersection at a very high rate of speed. Officer Wright pulled out behind the car and checked his radar to find the car traveling at a speed of 95 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. He immediately activated his emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle did not slow down or pull over. Dispatch was advised of the vehicle pursuit and continued down Lafayette Road until turning onto Kelsey Drive. The vehicle then cut through the Circle K gas station at the end of Kelsey Drive to get out on Dover Road where the vehicle attempted to turn onto High Point Road.
The vehicle became too erratic and jumped the curb into a parking lot and ran into phone boxes belonging to AT&T. Mark Wilkie, the driver, fled on foot and was quickly arrested by other units who were coming to aid. A check through NCIC revealed that Mark had his license revoked in 2014 for failure to pay fines and that he already has 2 driving on revoked convictions dating back to 2013 and 2012. A search was conducted of the vehicle and police found a digital scale, along with a small black bag that was hidden in a compartment under the lower left side of the steering wheel. The bag contained 3 syringes and the title of the vehicle, which was signed by the listed owner but not by any buyer.
Mark Wilkie was arrested and charged with 2 counts of evading arrest, 2 counts of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, driving on revoked 3rd offense, fraud/ failure to provide title, unlawful drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine violation. His bond was set at $65,500.
