CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A wanted felon out of Nashville, Tenn. will face additional charges in the Capital City after recklessly fleeing police in Charleston Tuesday morning.
Police allegedly attempted to pull over Che Dushon Lark, 41, for speeding on I-77. Instead of pulling over, Lark got off at the Leon Sullivan Way exit and drove at a high rate of speed through the city.
“It appeared like he was going to stop. Once he got to the bottom of the ramp, he then turned left into a parking area,” explained Charleston Police Sgt. Mark Kinder. “The officer pulled in behind him again at a low rate; we assumed he was going to stop. As the officer put his car in gear and got ready to get out, the suspect then took off.”
Kinder said Lark drove on Quarrier Street the wrong way through downtown Charleston, making it to the East End onto Greenbrier Street, eventually turning onto Elizabeth Street when he eventually crashed his car into the railroad tracks near Laidley Field.
Then, Kinder said, Lark attempted to flee on foot.
“He was spotted running down Laidley Field inside the track. Officers called out his location. Once officers closed in on him, he then surrendered and got down on the ground and was arrested without incident.”
Kinder confirmed that Lark is a fugitive, but wasn’t sure what he was wanted for. He will be arraigned in Kanawha Circuit Tuesday evening after his release from CAMC General.
“They are going to extradite him. He will be charged here with felony traffic and several misdemeanor traffic violations,” Kinder said.
For public safety reasons, Kinder said officers decided not to chase Lark. He said Lark was driving 70 or 80 miles per hour through a residential area, and the incident could have wound up much worse.
“I think it ended as well as it could have provided the circumstances that happened,” he said.
No one was injured in the incident, but it was unclear if any parked cars or property was damaged. Kinder also said it was too early to know if Lark was under the influence, or if any drugs or weapons were found in his vehicle.