19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|Breaking News, Weather, ExclusivesWrong Way: Akron Police Cruiser Hit Head On During Highway Chase

Wrong Way: Akron Police Cruiser Hit Head On During Highway Chase

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AKRON, OH (WOIO) -  Akron Police have identified the man who led them on a wild chase in the wrong direction along I-77 Saturday evening and crashed head on into their cruiser!

Darren Townsend, 28-years-old of Akron, Ohio was smacked with more that one-dozen charges Sunday.

Felony Charges:

• 2 COUNTS FELONIUS ASSAULT ON A PEACE OFFICER
• WEAPONS UNDER DISABILITY - PRIOR FELONY
• WILLFUL FLEE
• OBSTRUCTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS
• CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON
• WARRANT OUT FOR OBSTRUCTING

Misdemeanor Charges:

• RESISTING ARREST
• POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
• OPEN CONTAINER

Traffic Charges:

• DUI
• DRIVING WHILE UNDER SUSPENSION
• WRECKLESS OPERATION
• WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY
• FAILURE TO CONTROL

This, after Akron Police received a report of a black male firing shots in the area of Seward Avenue around 4:30 p.m. Upon arrival, the suspect, Darren Townsend, took off in a Chevy Impala with an assault rifle and entered I-77 in the wrong direction at Fredrick and Diagonal Road.

Townsend then headed southbound in the northbound lane of I-77 for a short distance until spinning back around in the right direction and smashing into a police cruiser head on. The chase continued after the two collided. Townsend and officers exited at East Avenue and drove through a residential area in the 1800 block of McTaggart Avenue before the Townsend completely spun out to a stop.

Akron Police tasered Townsend after he resisted arrest and transported him to Akron General Hospital for injuries believed to be from the head on crash. At the hospital, officers learned that the suspect had falsely identified himself.

Pending release from Akron General, Townsend faces multiple weapon charges along with assault on multiple police officers.

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