In what might be deemed the least-cool police chase in recent memory, a 33-year-old Bagdad man was arrested after leading police on a 40-mile chase while driving his Ford Aerostar mini-van.
The suspect, Steven Cox, who police say didn't appear to be drunk and had no warrants for his arrest, was asked by officers why he didn't just stop the van. He told them he just didn't feel like it.
Well-played, sir.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, Cox's wild ride began
on Highway 69 near Prescott and ended more than 40 miles away in Skull
Valley.
Police said they initially tried to pull Cox's vehicle to the side of the road
because he was swerving in-between lanes after leaving a Circle K
store east of Prescott.
According to police, Cox stopped at a red light after officers flipped on a siren, but when they approached the car in an
attempt to talk to the driver, Cox sped off.
He then proceeded to take the officers on a 40-mile ride -- running
several red lights and stop signs along the way.
After briefly suspending an aggressive pursuit of Cox as he drove
through more-populated areas, police re-engaged the minivan and dropped
what the fuzz call "stop sticks" on the road ahead of Cox.
All the tires on the van blew out and one of the rims came apart when Cox hit the sticks, but that didn't stop him -- he continued to drive as pieces of metal flew from the rim.
Police say that after the van was disabled and Cox could no
longer drive it, he stopped at Country Road 10 -- after running a stop
sign, of course -- but still refused to exit the vehicle.
Police had to break the rear window to gain access to Cox, who was
placed under arrest.
Cox, according to the YCSO, showed no signs that he was intoxicated at
the time of the chase, but police learned he is diabetic and say his
blood-sugar level may have contributed to his decision-making.
When asked why he didn't just stop, Cox told officers he had a lot on
his mind and didn't feel like it.
Cox was booked on one charge of suspicion of fleeing law enforcement and
endangering other drivers. He remains in jail on $15,000 bond.
