By Bonnie Culverhouse
A routine traffic stop turned into a high-speed chase for Minden Police Monday.
Chief Jared McIver said Off. Ben Sparks was patrolling the area of Tillman Street when he observed a Chevrolet Impala with an improperly displayed license plate.
“He learned via the computer, that the driver was void of insurance and operating under suspension,” McIver said. “The officer made the traffic stop at Tillman and Clerk. He said Mondreka Delatrice Combs repeatedly tried to exit the vehicle, even though he told her to stay seated.
“She sat back down in her seat and fled the traffic stop,” said McIver. “Off. Sparks actively pursued Combs in a marked unit with emergency lights and sirens activated. During the pursuit, Combs drove more than 25 miles per hour over posted speed limits and ran several stop signs.”
Combs reportedly failed to use any turn signals during pursuit.
“As they turned onto College Street, Sgt. Shawn Griffith attempted to block Combs, and she almost hit him head on. Combs ran off the road several times,” said the chief. “Ultimately, Combs led the police back to the Minden Police Department. I confronted her in the parking lot and asked what she was doing. She said, ‘l knew I was going to jail anyways and decided to drive to the jail.’”
Mondreka Delatrice Combs, 38, of the 700 block of Sibley Rd., Minden, is charged with flight from an officer, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, no insurance, driving under suspension and improper display of license plate. Combs had two active warrants for failure to appear for arraignment and failure to appear for review.
McIver thanked Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies for helping in the pursuit of Combs.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named 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.
