Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office report a Columbus man is facing multiple charges relating to a pursuit early Sunday morning in the Quincy area, during which the defendant reportedly was observed to have a small child riding on his lap.
Cortez Anderson, 63, was placed under arrest for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, child endangering, domestic violence, resisting arrest and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. He was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Deputies responded about 12:10 a.m. to a residence on Jefferson Street in Quincy on a report of a domestic dispute. The female caller said told dispatchers that her estranged husband had been at the residence and he had physically assaulted her and then left in a vehicle with their 1-year-old child.
When deputies arrived, they spoke with the victim, who said Anderson convinced her to let him come to the residence that evening, telling her that he had stopped drinking.
However, while the defendant was at the home, his estranged wife began to observe the odor of alcohol on his breath. When she confronted him about it, she said he became hostile and physically violent, grabbing her by the throat and squeezing, and then pushing her about the bedroom and hitting her. She said she picked up her phone to call 911, and was able to dial and connect and then Anderson slapped the phone away from her.
The victim said the defendant attempted to take her 6-year-old with him, but the 6-year-old broke free from his grasp. So Anderson reportedly picked up the 1-year-old and left the residence in his vehicle, which his wife said did not have any child safety seats.
Deputies said the female victim had a visible scratch on her throat.
Establishing that the defendant’s actions were endangering the safety of a child, deputies were able to put out a “be on the lookout” alert to law enforcement for his vehicle and to ping his cellular phone.
While deputies were still at the Jefferson Street residence, deputies said the defendant drove by the home. Deputies began to pursue the vehicle, which turned onto County Road 66 and then failed to stop at the stop sign for Township Road 71.
Deputies said the suspect’s vehicle went into the opposite lane of travel several times and then at the intersection of County Road 64, his vehicle went off the road and into the ditch and the vehicle became stuck.
Anderson reportedly attempted to rock his vehicle back and forth to get it out of the ditch, while deputies were yelling commands at him to exit the vehicle. He then accelerated backwards and was able to get out of the ditch, but nearly struck a deputy at the same time. The deputy observed the child sitting on the defendant’s lap at that time.
Deputies continued to pursue the vehicle, which reached speeds of 70 mph, and said the suspect vehicle came to a stop back at the Jefferson Street residence, which was approximately 3 miles of pursuit.
Anderson was removed from the vehicle by deputies, who said the 1-year-old boy was not injured and he was returned to his mother.
However, the defendant broke free from deputies and began running toward the residence. Out of concern that Anderson might have a weapon on him and attempt to barricade himself in the house, deputies deployed a Taser on his back, but the electronic control device did not stop the defendant.
Anderson entered the residence, followed by deputies. He was placed under arrest at that time. Quincy EMS personnel treated the defendant at the scene for minor cuts, and a single Taser probe was removed from his right tricep, deputies said.