W.Va., Pa. men charged after car chase

July 05, 2009

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. --Â A car being chased by police south on Interstate 81 from Maryland into West Virginia early Saturday ended at a rest area inside the West Virginia line, where a passenger in the car ran into a wooded area, according to a press release from the West Virginia State Police.

Maryland State Police detained the driver of the car, who was identified as Louis Mills, 24, of Martinsburg, according to the release.

The passenger, who was later found on U.S. 11 and Tabernacle Way, was identified as Joshua Helman, 18, of Waynesboro, Pa., the release said.

Mills was charged with fleeing while DUI, DUI and no operator's license. Helman was charged with fleeing on foot and underage consumption of alcohol, the release said.

The incident started about 1:41 a.m. when Sgt. K.W. Martin, Sgt. Kevin Plumer and Trooper N. Campbell were sent to the Maryland state line to help Maryland State Police with a pursuit that was approaching West Virginia, the release said.

Officers were told that "stop sticks" were deployed in Maryland and that the tires on the suspect's car were deflated, the release said.

Authorities were informed that a Washington Township, Pa., police officer tried to stop a blue Toyota Corolla for traffic offenses but the car failed to yield, the release said.

There were two other people in the car, but they were released after it was determined they were not voluntary participants in the pursuit, police said.

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