Staff Reports
A man wanted on a parole warrant was arrested on several felony charges including auto theft and robbery Wednesday afternoon after leading Columbus police on a chase that resulted in minor injuries to a woman in his vehicle.
At about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Columbus police saw David A. Compton, 23, of 2003 Hege Ave., traveling inside a vehicle on Central Avenue, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Officers stopped the vehicle a short time later and as they approached the car, Compton was able to climb over to the vehicle’s driver seat and pushed the female driver partially out of the car. Compton then quickly accelerated the vehicle dragging the passenger for a short distance, Harris said.
A vehicle pursuit with Compton then ensued that lasted several minutes. During the pursuit, Compton disregarded traffic signals and stop signs, drove on sidewalks, drove across a pedestrian bridge near Hamilton Center and Ice Arena and went the wrong way on city streets in an effort to evade law enforcement, Harris said.
Compton later drove between houses near Jolinda Drive and crashed through a fence before exiting the stolen vehicle. Compton fled on foot and was apprehended with the assistance of a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office canine Bravo with handler Leah Burton, who located him hiding inside a trash can, Harris said.
Compton was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for medical clearance and later to the Bartholomew County Jail on the following preliminary charges: Indiana Parole Warrant, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, auto theft, robbery, criminal recklessness and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident.
He was being held without bond in the Bartholomew County Jail, jail officials said.
In addition to these charges, Compton was also arrested July 22 by Columbus police on a felony theft charge after he was reportedly observed stealing a package from the porch of a Columbus home in the 200 block of North Gladstone Avenue. He had been incarcerated in the Bartholomew County Jail on $7,500 bond.
