THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280299
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
It was an unusual and harrowing end to a car chase on Wednesday for Portsmouth Police Officer Meagan Smith.
The driver of a car being pursued ended up with an attempted capital murder charge, and Smith ended up with an injured foot.
But as Amber H. Whittaker, spokeswoman for the Portsmouth Police Department, said Wednesday, ``Smith is not in the hospital, and she is very lucky.''
Whittaker gave the following account:
Shortly after 1 a.m., in the 3900 block of Elliott Ave., Smith and other officers attempted to halt a driver for traffic violations. He refused to stop.
About a minute later, while still in the 3900 block, the suspect lost control of his car and it teetered on its side.
As Smith got out of her cruiser and approached the vehicle, the suspect's car fell back on its wheels, and the suspect began driving his car toward Smith.
``She fled back to her vehicle for safety,'' said Whittaker.
But not before the suspect rammed Smith's police cruiser, slamming the door against Smith's foot.
The suspect continued to flee, for about five minutes, until he was apprehended in the 4700 block of Deep Creek Blvd., after again losing control of his car.
Police arrested 19-year-old Aliahondro R. Godette of the 3800 block of Sugar Creek Circle in Portsmouth. Godette was charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer, hit and run, attempt to elude and possessing a stolen handgun.
KEYWORDS: ASSAULT ARREST by CNB