Mitchell teen charged with DUI, fleeing from police at high speed

An 18-year-old Mitchell man faces numerous charges after allegedly driving drunk and fleeing from Davison County Sheriff’s deputies shortly before 9 p.m. on May 26 in Mitchell.

Dahjrick Jayde Clark is charged with two felonies, aggravated eluding and simple assault on a law enforcement officer, and four misdemeanors, second-offense drunken driving, obstructing a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and underage consumption in a motor vehicle.

According to court documents, the charges stem from an incident that began when Deputy Steve Harr saw a vehicle allegedly driven by Clark heading south at a “very high rate of speed” through the intersection of Havens Avenue and Ohlman Street. Harr immediately activated his vehicle’s lights and siren, but Clark allegedly failed to stop.

A pursuit ensued, the documents say, with Clark allegedly turning east onto Norway Avenue and accelerating to nearly 100 mph in a 25-mph zone, with “numerous people standing outside, as well as other traffic.”

Clark then allegedly turned north onto Minnesota Street, at which point Harr ended the high-speed chase for safety reasons, but continued up the street at normal speeds to ensure the fleeing vehicle had not crashed. When Harr reached the intersection of Minnesota Street and McCabe Street he allegedly saw Clark flee from his vehicle, which was now parked on the side of the road. Harr stayed with the vehicle while other deputies searched for Clark, the documents state.

Deputy Tim Reitzel located Clark a short time later and brought him back to the vehicle. When Harr asked Clark to exit Reitzel’s patrol car to be put in handcuffs, Clark allegedly attempted to run from the officers again. Harr, Reitzel and Chief Deputy Steve Brink chased and were eventually able to wrestle Clark to the ground and take him into custody, the documents say.

Reitzel was taken by ambulance to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital after injuring his knee in the scuffle.

Clark has since been released from jail on a $2,000 bond. He is required to participate in the state 24/7 Sobriety program as a condition of his bond. He is scheduled to appear in court in June.

Tags: drunken driving, high speed, news, updates, crime, local, mitchell, dui, police