Racine pursuit, chain-reaction crash; 2 men charged
Charles Canady; Artrelas Ray
RACINE, Wis. - Racine County prosecutors charged two men after an attempted traffic stop led to a pursuit and chain-reaction crash on Monday.
According to a criminal complaint, the driver who caused the crash was 23-year-old Charles Canady. His passenger, 21-year-old Artrelas Ray, got out of the SUV before the crash – and had a warrant out for his arrest.
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Prosecutors said police were looking for the SUV, which had fled a traffic stop on Sunday, and found it while on patrol near Memorial and Washington. Officers initiated a traffic stop, and the SUV stopped in a parking lot.
A passenger – later identified as Ray – got out and ran across the parking lot, per the complaint. One officer ran after Ray, while the other went up to the SUV. The officer saw Canady in the driver's seat before it sped off.
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Racine County sheriff's deputies spotted the SUV as it fled southbound on Memorial Avenue, according to prosecutors. They turned on their lights and made a U-turn to conduct a traffic stop. By that time, the SUV was speeding into oncoming traffic. The deputy followed for roughly two blocks before the SUV crashed head-on into a car, sideswiped another, and hit three parked cars.
The complaint states the driver of the car that was hit head-on suffered a fractured sternum and his car was totaled. There were three people in the sideswiped vehicle, which was also totaled; two of the three were taken to the hospital, while the third had minor injuries. Two of the parked vehicles were also totaled; the third parked vehicle had minor damage.
The complaint made no mention of any injuries to Canady or the condition of the SUV he was driving.
In custody
Prosecutors said, once in custody, Canady admitted to fleeing the traffic stop. In all, he is charged with nine felonies:
- Attempting to flee or elude an officer
- Vehicle operator fleeing/eluding an officer, resulting in great bodily harm (four counts)
- First-degree recklessly endangering safety (four counts)
Court records show his cash bond was set at $10,000 on Tuesday. He was also cited for operating while revoked and reckless driving.
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The complaint states Ray ignored the officer's commands to stop and, once the officer caught him, refused to put his hands behind his back. It ultimately took multiple officers to take him into custody.
In all, Ray is charged with two misdemeanors – obstructing an officer and resisting an officer – and two felony bail jumping counts. His cash bond was set at $5,000 on Tuesday.