Man arrested after chase

BAYOU GEORGE -- Deputies have arrested a man who tried to escape arrest in a sports car running on gas fumes, Bay County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday.

BCSO arrested Christopher Marcus Coleman, 19, after receiving reports of a white Chevrolet Camaro with a black top driving erratically Sunday at 9:20 p.m. U.S. 231.

A BCSO deputy saw the Camaro pulling into the Express Lane convenience store and gas station on Star Avenue and John Pitts Road. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, turning on his blue lights, when the car sped off in a turn southbound onto Star Avenue.

The Camaro seemed to be experiencing engine trouble, traveling only about 40 to 45 miles per hour, the officer reported.

Coleman crossed over into the oncoming lane, causing other vehicles to swerve to avoid hitting the Camaro. This continued until the Camaro approached Star Lane when it barely made the turn and drifted to a stop in the middle of the roadway, BCSO reported.

The deputy, using his vehicle’s PA system, ordered the suspect to show his hands. Coleman, however, sat motionless in the driver’s seat, staring at the deputy in his rearview mirror. At this point another deputy was traveling in the opposite direction coming out of Star Lane, approached Star Avenue. Seeing the second deputy stop, the suspect lifted his hands and followed instructions, BCSO reported.

Coleman was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding and failing to obey a law enforcement officer, knowingly driving while license suspended or revoked, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (MDMA and Alprazolam), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana more than 20 grams.