COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus Police Department officers arrested a wrong-way driver after a short pursuit last week.
According to a CPD Facebook post, officers observed 26-year-old Marcos Morales-Cortez driving in the wrong direction on 7th Street near Central Avenue at a low rate of speed at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday.
CPD reported that its officers ordered Morales-Cortez to pull over, and he initially complied with commands. After a few moments, however, Morales-Cortez sped away in his vehicle.
Police have indicated that they pursued Morales-Cortez. During the chase, he struck a median by 10th Street and Central Avenue and then struck another car near 17th Street and Central Avenue.
After he hit the car near 17th Street and Central Avenue, Morales-Cortez fled from his vehicle on foot. CPD reported that its officers apprehended him shortly after he ran from his car.
Police indicated that, while they spoke with Morales-Cortez, they noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and that his breath smelled of alcohol. He was then transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw before being taken to the Bartholomew County Jail.
CPD reported that the person involved in the crash with Morales-Cortez near 17th Street and Central Avenue sustained minor injuries.
Morales-Cortez has been preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle without a license.
