Connect-Bridgeport’s 2017 Top News Stories: #10
By Julie Perine on December 28, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: For those not thinking a day as a police officer can become deadly, this situation that ironcially ended in front of the Bridgeport Police Department proved it could be the case at any time.
Police Pursuit Ends in Crash at Bridgeport Police Station; Police Lieutenant in Vehicle when Struck
By Julie Perine
A police pursuit has ended in a crash at Bridgeport Police Department, where officers had been notified that the chase was traveling east on U.S. Route 50.
“We were notified by headquarters that there was a pursuit on Emily Drive, then we were updated that it was at Home Depot,” said Bridgeport Police Officer Scott Toothman.
Several members of Bridgeport Police waited in their vehicles in the parking lot of the police station, ready to follow the vehicle - a blue Hyundai Elantra - when it approached.
“But the driver lost control at the curve and hit Lt. John Post’s vehicle, I guess you could say head-on,” Toothman said.
Post was in the vehicle, a black Explorer, when it was struck. He did not appear to be injured, but was taken to United Hospital Center. 
The male driver of the Hyundai took off on foot with several officers chasing him up the hill into the woods across Main Street from the police station. After resiting arrest, he was apprehended, Toothman said.
“There were two females in the car and we made sure they didn’t have any weapons, then they were transported to the hospital,” he said.
Both females complained of minor injuries.
The accident happened at about 1 p.m.
The pursuit had been for a shoplifting incident at Kohl’s Department Store on Emily Drive, Toothman said. Clarksburg Police is investigating. It is believed the suspect or supsects may have been facing additional charges.
Clean-up of a substantial amount of debris was still taking place at 3 p.m.
City of Bridgeport employees said they saw the Hyundai airborn in front of the municipal building before it landed and thereafter struck a tree, then the police vehicle.
As of 3:45 p.m., Post remained at UHC for testing. The driver of the Hyundai and his female passengers were also still under medical evaluation. Police Chief John Walker said Bridgeport will have charges against the trio, as will Clarksburg.
Walker said one other Bridgeport Police officer, Aaron Lantz, received minor injuries while apprehending the suspect.
“He’s been treated and released,” Walker said.
Walker said he was very pleased with the way his force reacted to and handled the situation.
“Everybody involved did a great job. They did what they had to do,” he said.
There happened to be extra officers on hand.
“As it turned out, there was a group of guys getting ready to go on a high-risk warrant, so we had probably four people getting ready to exit when the call came in,” he said. “They stood by, knowing (the pursuit) was coming within seconds.”
Harrison County 911 Director Paul Bump said the call for the shoplifting incident at Kohl’s came in at 12:47 p.m. and that he pursuit went directly from Eastpointe to Route 50. Also involved were Clarksburg Police, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and West Virginia State Police. He said it was 1:04 p.m. when fire and EMS units were alerted that a crash had taken place.
UPDATE: As of 5 p.m., Lt. John Post had been released from United Hospital Center.
Editor's Note: Bottom two photos were captured by City of 
Bridgeport employee, Cheryl Cummings-Mehaulic.
Bridgeport employee, Cheryl Cummings-Mehaulic.
See additional images in the gallery below.
