Man fleeing from EPD collides with red Prius, rams patrol car and tries to strike officer, according to witnesses

Captain Steve Watson:

@ 9:20am driver of a silver Durango fled from an EPD officer S/B on B St. from Wabash & collided with a parked red Prius on 2400 Blk of B St

Driver rammed the officer's patrol car stopped behind him. Witnesses also report driver tried to strike the officer with his vehicle. https://t.co/nLCwpHfAvN

Driver was arrested after being Taser-ed and pepper sprayed. https://t.co/GLuri2eRRU

EPD Press Release (3:15 p.m.):

    

On June 16, 2017 at about 9:15 a.m., an officer with the Eureka Police Department attempted a traffic stop on a Dodge Durango near Wabash Avenue and A Street for failing to stop at a stop sign.  Two passengers exited the vehicle quickly before the driver fled south on B Street at a high rate of speed.  While continuing to flee, the driver collided with a parked Prius on the 2400 block of B Street, just a few blocks south from where the officer attempted the traffic stop.  

The officer parked behind the Durango and got out of his patrol vehicle in an attempt to detain the driver.  The driver then repeatedly pulled forward then back, ramming the patrol car. 

Due to the driver continuing to ignore the officer's commands to get out of the vehicle, the officer had to break the driver's window with his baton, and use his OC spray in an attempt to apprehend the driver.  The OC spray was ineffective, so the officer then used his Taser to successfully take the driver into custody.

The driver was identified as 37 year old Samuel Summers.  Summers was transported to the hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for reckless evading, resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, probation violation, driving without a valid license, and felony warrants for registered sex offender violations, domestic violence, and parole violation.

The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene and is handling the collision investigation.  Numerous citizens stayed on scene and offered valuable witness statements which will assist in the investigation.   

Chief Mills said, "We are very fortunate that this man's reckless behavior did not cause any injuries and I am very impressed with the officer's restraint."

Officers are also investigating the report of shots fired from a vehicle near Wabash and B Street which occurred at about 9:32 a.m.  At this time it is unknown if the two incidents are related.