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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A high-speed chase which involved two convicted felons started with a report of a suspicious person at a Jackson County, Ohio Walmart Monday.
Court documents indicated Jeremiah Gray, 42, of Blue Ridge, Ga. and Desiree Lewis, 36, of Covington, Ky. were arrested by West Virginia State Police after the nearly 75 mile pursuit which ended at the I-64/77 split in the middle of Charleston.
Ohio authorities said they responded to a report of a suspicious individual carrying a gun, wearing body armor, a badge and a radio. Gray identified himself to responding officers at the store, but fled in a vehicle with no registration.
Ohio deputies pursued Gray from the Wal-Mart. The chase went onto U.S. Route 35. Gray eluded stop sticks in several locations by driving the wrong way on Route 35 in Ohio. Eventually, the pursuit crossed the Ohio River into West Virginia. The chase followed Route 35 through Mason and Putnam County then moved onto I-64 east at Teays Valley and eventually into Kanawha County. Court documents indicated speeds topped 100 miles an hour at times during the chase.
Troopers and deputies successfully pierced the vehicle’s tire at the interstate split in Charleston, bringing the chase to an end.
According to the criminal complaint Lewis, who was a passenger, got out of the vehicle and approached law enforcement with both middle fingers extended into the air. However, she refused to follow commands of officers and wound up being shot with a bean bag round and a taser before retreating back into the car. Eventually, she exited a second time and was arrested without any further incident.
Gray exited the vehicle clad in body armor with a pistol at his side and was arrested without incident. A search of the vehicle revealed a shotgun between the two front seats.
Gray is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, fleeing with reckless indifference, obstructing an officer and persons prohibited from committing a violent crime, the complaint said. Lewis is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and obstructing an officer.
During his arraignment, Gray claimed Sovereign Citizen status and refused to sign any documents. Lewis asked for a court appointed lawyer and both are being held in lieu of $50,000 cash only bond in the South Central Regional Jail in Charleston.