By Bonnie Culverhouse

A routine traffic stop landed a local man in jail as an alleged street gang member.

Markeese D. Germany, 23, of the 200 block of Roosevelt St., Minden, was arrested Saturday by Minden Police and charged with aggravated flight, criminal street gangs and patterns of criminal street gang activity, window tint, switched tags and driving under suspension.

Police Chief Steve Cropper said Ofc. Reece Tewell attempted to stop Germany’s vehicle for suspected window tint that appeared to be illegal.

“Once behind the vehicle, Ofc. Tewell initiated overhead lights,” said the chief. “When he did, the suspect vehicle did a u-turn in an open field on Shreveport Road. Then he turned and went down Shreveport Road and turned right onto Allen Drive, reaching speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone.”

The suspect, Germany, reportedly drove into the wrong lane of travel several times, at one point almost striking head-on another vehicle.

“He then ran a stop sign and turned left onto Dorcheat Road, headed north,” Cropper said. “His speed reached in excess of 100 miles per hour, at one point reaching 115 while on Dorcheat Road.”

Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies set up a road block at Highway 160, allowing the suspect two paths to travel.

“He chose to turn left, heading westbound on 160 toward a dead end,” Cropper said. “Again, he reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and drove on the opposite side of the road until he crashed into a dirt pile, ending the pursuit.”

Tewell and the deputies exited their vehicles and reportedly gave “loud verbal commands” for the suspect to show his hands. Deputies aided Germany in exiting the vehicle. He was charged and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.