Motorist who hit tree after police chase faces several charges, traffic violations / LJWorld.com

Douglas County prosecutors have filed several charges and traffic infractions against a 35-year-old Lawrence man accused of leading police on a chase Thursday in a stolen vehicle and crashing it into a tree on Iowa Street.

Contributed photo/Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Billy Joe Johnson

Billy Joe Johnson faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving on a suspended license, two counts of theft, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and several traffic infractions, according to court records.

Lawrence police said they briefly chased a stolen vehicle just after 5 p.m. Thursday after employees of a bank in the 900 block of Iowa reported suspicious activity near the car. Prosecutors allege Johnson, who had two passengers in the car, led police on a chase through a nearby residential area between Ninth and 15th streets, but police called off the chase because of the amount of rush-hour traffic.

Minutes later a resident in the 1200 block of Iowa Street reported a car struck a tree on his property. The three occupants had fled on foot, and police later arrested Johnson at a house in the 2500 block of Oxford Road and took the two passengers into custody. Police allege the car was stolen out of Jefferson County and had a license plate stolen from Lawrence.

KRichards 1 year, 2 months ago

What about grand theft auto?

Guardian 1 year, 2 months ago

Truth is, Kansas doesn't have Grand Theft Auto on the books. It's just considered felony theft.

JackMcKee 1 year, 2 months ago

I'm sure Topeka was somehow involved..

superswagg56 1 year, 2 months ago

Anybody who takes a jab at "TURDTOWN" can't be a bad guy!!

matthew2600 1 year, 2 months ago

JackMcKee with a jab at Topeka. About as clever as Chad's wife jokes in Town Talk.

riverdrifter 1 year, 2 months ago

Ode to Billy Joe: Welcome to the Greybar Hotel.

BMI 1 year, 2 months ago

Didn't happen to be a Escort?

ljwhirled 1 year, 2 months ago

Same Johnson clan that used to live at 6th & Wakarusa (before anything got built west of Monteray way?)

cato_the_elder 1 year, 2 months ago

From the picture, he's clearly a Mizzou grad.

Guess you've never seen a Lawrence townie.

which is basically a slighter better version of a Topekan.

doc1 1 year, 2 months ago

The real shame is you can commit a Felony and get away from police knowing they will call off every chase these days. Bad guys are learning this and the trend will skyrocket. Had this guy been a good driver he would have been riding away in the sunset with a smile on his face.

Archive for Friday, March 2, 2012