Published: July 09, 2009 12:23 pm      

London Police use rolling roadblock to end chase

A Virginia man is in the Laurel County Detention Center after leading London Police on a high speed chase on Interstate 75 in a stolen car.

Aiman S. Etturki, 38, of Arlington, Va., faces multiple charges following the pursuit north on I-75, which police say reached speeds of 120 mph Saturday afternoon.

London Police Officer John Whitehead said about 3:45 p.m., he was investigating a call of a possible drunk driver on the interstate. Just south of mile marker 39, Whitehead pulled up on a Suzuki SX4 to check on the driver. As Whitehead came to a stop, he said the driver, later identified as Etturki, fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

After a short chase, Whithead said Etturki stopped. Whitehead ordered Etturki to step out of the vehicle, but the he fled a second time, reaching speeds of 122 mph.

Whitehead was able to get in front of the vehicle and used a rolling road block to stop the vehicle just north of mile marker 41 and ordered Etturki out of the vehicle and onto the ground.

However, when Etturki tried to get to his feet, Whithead said he used his Taser to get him to comply.

Etturki was taken to Saint Joseph-London for treatment. At the hospital, London Police Lieutenant Derek House advised Etturki of his Miranda Rights after which he told police he ran because he had been drinking and had a revoked driver’s license.

Whitehead said officers found several open containers in the car. A check of the car’s license plate indicated it had been stolen from Louisiana.

Etturki was charged with speeding — 26 mph or more over the limit, first-degree fleeing or evading police,, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, possession of open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property over $300, driving on suspend or revoked operator’s license, failure to wear seat belts and resisting arrest. He is being held on a $25,000 bond.

Staff writer Dean Manning may be reached at dmanning@sentinel-echo.com.