An Elyria man who was pulled over and then told officers he wasn't actually driving, just "traveling," was arrested when police smashed his car's windows and dragged him out of the vehicle when he refused to cooperate.
Damien Reshard Crawley, 38, was hit with a slew of charges in connection with the traffic stop. Crawley was charged with failure to comply with a police order, failure to disclose personal information, resisting arrest and obstructing official business. He was also found to have outstanding warrants out of the Erie County Sheriff's Office and Amherst Police Department for a suspended driver's license.
The traffic stop happened on Bell Avenue near Ironwood Court around 8:25 p.m. on Tuesday, according to an Elyria Police Report.
Authorities spotted a car driving with a snow-covered license plate which then made a right turn without using a signal. The driver, later identified as Crawley, dipped his arm down in what appeared to be an attempt at concealing either a gun or contraband near the seat, the report stated.
Police pulled Crawley over, but he refused to cooperate with them, the report stated. Crawley was sitting directly behind the wheel and was alone in the car when he told police that he wasn't actually driving, he was just "traveling," and didn't have to identify himself.
Crawley kept reciting details about a Texas court case over and over in what seemed to be an attempt to explain his behavior, the report stated. During the altercation with police, Crawley filmed himself with a cell phone pointed at his face.
Additional officers arrived on scene and tried to speak to Crawley, the report stated. During his conversations with police, Crawley kept the car windows up except for about two inches on the driver side.
One of the officers said they could smell marijuana coming from the car, the report stated. As the traffic stop dragged on, Crawley continued to yell at police in an "incoherent manner," that he wasn't driving, just "traveling."
Two officers then used collapsible batons to break the front driver's side and front passenger's side windows, according to the report. The officers then tried to drag him out of the car, but Crawley went limp and acted as dead weight. When Crawley was eventually removed from the vehicle, he went to the ground and was handcuffed by police.
Police found several torn up baggies with marijuana residue inside on the passenger seat. They also found a razer blade with a black handle inside the car's center console, the report states.
Crawley was treated on scene by EMS for a minor cut above his left eyebrow and then transported to Lorain County Jail and booked on his charges.
