Man charged with fleeing police in stolen car

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A Newport man allegedly fled police at speeds higher than 100 mph in a stolen car while drunk.

Damien A. Anderson, 31, is charged Washington County District Court with fleeing a police officer, theft of motor vehicle and third-degree DWI in connection with an alleged incident on Dec. 7.

According to the court complaint, an off-duty Drug Enforcement Agency officer saw Anderson’s car traveling more than 100 mph with its lights off and began pursuing him with his emergency lights on in the area of eastbound Highway 36 and Keats. He called the Stillwater police, who took over as the primary unit following Anderson.

Anderson failed to pull over, and lost a front passenger tire while traveling at a about 60 mph, according to the court complaint, but kept going. Officers did pit maneuvers twice to try to stop Anderson, and eventually boxed him in.

Officers removed Anderson from the car at gunpoint, and took him to the hospital, the court complaint says. He told police he had been drinking, smoking methamphetamines and smoking marijuana, according to the complaint.

Officers searched the vehicle and found marijuana and Oxycontin.

Anderson makes his initial appearance in court Dec. 23.

He faces charges of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, which has a maximum penalty of three years in prison and $5,000 in fines, motor vehicle theft, which has a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines and third-degree DWI, which has a maximum sentence of one year in prison and $3,000.

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