On July 30, an officer was on patrol near Hillside Drive when they observed a vehicle accident. The officer initially passed the accident and had to wait to turn around safely, but as they waited, the officer observed a silver Mercedes take off from the accident scene. Reportedly, it was apparent that the silver Mercedes had rear-ended the other vehicle, as the vehicle had been in the back of the scene and had front end damage. The officer attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle continued south on North Columbia Street, erratically changing lanes. The vehicle continued to drive, making reckless choices and on Dunlap Road, the vehicle passed in a no passing zone forcing multiple vehicles off the roadway to avoid a head on collision. Reportedly, one black truck struck a road sign because of this. The offender ran off the opposite side of the roadway, spinning sideways through front yards and then returned to the roadway.
The driver continued the pursuit with reckless disregard until a flee attempt on Woodview circle spiraled the vehicle into a front yard. The driver came to a stop and then opened the door to look directly at the officer, momentarily, before driving to the backyard and running on foot. The driver then continued driving through the yard and into the backyard. The driver exited the vehicle and began running on foot. The officer attempted a pursuit on foot, but the offender reached for an item in his waist band that appeared to be a weapon. For the officer’s safety, he put distance between them and noticed that the offender’s vehicle had continued rolling during the foot pursuit. The vehicle crashed through and broke off a post supporting the back porch of the residence, and continued through the yard striking a hammock, chairs and a fence.
At this time, the offender escaped around the back of the house and the officer alerted other law enforcement of his last seen location. During an inventory of the vehicle, an ID card identified the offender as Eric Greene. The identification matched the driver license and jail photo records.
Reportedly, it is believed that the offender fled to his last known address as it was a few blocks away from the direction Greene fled. Attempt to make contact at this location was made but the person inside would only look out the window and not answer the door. The owner of the offender’s vehicle reported that Eric Greene was the only person they would know to drive their vehicle and that they had been inside working when the vehicle disappeared.
Warrants for fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement (felony), reckless driving, hit and run, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, a second hit and run, and driving while license suspended were secured for Greene. Outstanding warrants for a probation violation (felony) and a failure to appear were also found for Greene. There is nothing further as of The Bulletin’s press deadline.