photo by: Google Maps

The red marker denotes the intersection of North 950 and East 550 roads in Douglas County where a man is alleged to have crashed into a guardrail while fleeing from law enforcement on March 12, 2024.

A Pomona man allegedly continued to run from law enforcement even after crashing his vehicle into a guardrail on Tuesday night as he fled across Douglas County.

The chase began in Franklin County on U.S. Highway 59 when Ottawa police began pursuing a white Honda Accord in reference to a call about an erratic driver, said George Diepenbrock, spokesperson with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Ottawa officers lost sight of the vehicle, but it was seen again by Douglas County deputies on East 550 Road south of Clinton Lake. Deputies said they observed the driver committing multiple traffic infractions before the vehicle crashed into a guardrail at the intersection of North 950 and East 550 roads, Diepenbrock said.

The vehicle continued for a short time before reaching Clinton Cemetery where the vehicle became “disabled,” Diepenbrock said. No injuries were reported, and Diepenbrock did not say how the car became disabled.

After the chase, deputies arrested Joshua Dean Simms, 30, of Pomona, on suspicion of felony flee and elude and operating a vehicle without a license. He was released shortly after his arrest on a $2,025 surety bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on April 2, according to the jail booking log.

photo by: Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office

Joshua Dean Simms

Simms has several pending misdemeanor charges in Shawnee County in connection with an incident in January 2023, including two counts of battery; driving under the influence; criminal damage; possession of marijuana; and transporting an open container. He is next scheduled to appear in court in that case on March 21 and is free in that case on a $22,500 bond.