An attempted traffic stop Wednesday that turned into a high-speed chase led to several criminal charges being filed Thursday in Racine County Circuit Court against a 19-year-old Mount Pleasant man.
Tyrone J. Johnson faces a felony charge of attempting to flee or elude an officer, as well as four felony bail-jumping charges and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.
The felonies carry a total fine of $50,000 and 27 years, six months in prison, while the misdemeanor carries a fine of $1,000 and six months in county jail.
According to the criminal complaint: A Racine Police Department officer attempted to stop the defendant’s vehicle at 4:53 p.m. for several infractions, but Johnson fled west on Washington Avenue, where speeds reached 60 mph. At one point, Johnson braked as if to make a quick turn or exit the vehicle. That was followed by a turn onto Deane Boulevard, where the pursuit ended and Johnson was taken from the vehicle at gunpoint.
During a search of the defendant, police found $844 in various denominations, along with marijuana stuck to the roof of his mouth and tongue. Johnson admitted to police that he ate a “roach,” but then said he bought something from a smoke shop, which is what he ate.
Inside the vehicle, police found loose marijuana on the driver’s seat and floorboard, along with multiple sandwich baggies that had been ripped open, along with a cell phone. In all, police seized .4 grams of marijuana from the defendant.
Johnson, who is in police custody, made his initial court appearance Thursday. Court records indicate the defendant is free on bond in two separate marijuana-related cases, and as a condition, was ordered not to engage in further criminal activity or possess controlled substances, which led to four felony bail-jumping charges.