photo by: Journal-World File Photo

In this file photo from Aug. 4, 2020, a Lawrence Police Department patrol vehicle is pictured outside the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

An Olathe man reportedly led Lawrence police on a chase Sunday night through downtown Lawrence before crashing into a pole near the Community Building.

After the chase, the man, Kendrick Guerrero, 19, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm while under the influence, driving under the influence, recklessly fleeing a law enforcement officer, failure to report an accident, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of paraphernalia.

Around 11 p.m. Sunday, a Lawrence police officer tried to stop a car for a traffic violation near the intersection of 10th and Massachusetts streets, said Lt. David Ernst with LPD. The driver fled the scene, driving north, and the officer could not catch up and lost contact with the car near the Kansas River Bridge, Ernst said.

The pursuit resumed when another officer located the suspect’s car behind Johnny’s Tavern, 401 N. 2nd St., and the car fled from the officer, heading back south across the bridge toward the downtown area, Ernst said. Police were ready on the south side of the bridge and were able to successfully deploy spike strips on the fleeing car near Sixth and Vermont streets; however, the vehicle did not stop, Ernst said.

The fleeing car made its way south on Vermont Street where it entered the parking lot of the Community Building, 115 West 11th St., struck a parked car and hit a utility pole, stopping the vehicle, Ernst said.

Guerrero was later booked into the Douglas County Jail and is being held on a $8,950 bond. Charges had yet to be filed by the District Attorney’s Office at the time of this report.