SLIP SLIDING CHASE OF SLIPPERY SUSPECT 2010
An undercover police officer said he felt lucky to be alive after trying to catch a burglary suspect who led officers on a chase through Wilder and Newport. Detective Ken Hall, of Wilder police, said he spotted a man Saturday night suspected of breaking into cars at a movie theater and fitness club. "I was at the gas station the suspect pulled up beside me," said Hall, who allowed CONUS to use his name but not his face.Officers said the suspect, Joseph Huffman, targeted women by breaking into their cars to steal credit cards. The plainclothes detective identified himself and asked Huffman to show his identification, but Hall said he fled. "He became uncooperative, ran toward his vehicle and I grabbed him," Hall said. Huffman managed to get inside a stolen car and attempted to drive away with the undercover officer hanging onto him. "He drug me maybe 20 feet, and I was able to get away from the vehicle enough that he didn't strike me with the vehicle, but the vehicle ran over my hand when he pulled away," Hall said. Hall said he was unable to reach his weapon as the suspect fled, and Huffman drove off on rain-slick state Route 9. The detective suffered only minor injuries in the struggle. Other officers chased Huffman northbound into Newport, where after several wrong turns down one-way streets, the car spun out and crashed into a police cruiser at the foot of the Taylor-Southgate Bridge. Huffman, who had recently been released from prison in Kentucky, was taken into custody and held without bond. He refused to leave his cell Monday morning for arraignment on charges of receiving stolen property, fleeing or evading police, being a persistent felony offender, assault on a police officer, wanton endangerment of a police officer and a driver’s license violation.