Drug arrest in high-speed chase

MADISON — A convicted felon who led police on a high-speed chase into Jackson Monday night remains behind bars.

Johnny Jermaine Coleman of Jackson was arrested late Monday after the Volkswagen Jetta he was allegedly driving crashed into a wooded area near the intersection of Eminence Row and Newman Avenue in west Jackson off North West Street, just west of Meadowbrook.

An officer on patrol in the business district near Madison Avenue and Grandview Boulevard had spotted the driver acting suspiciously and attempted a traffic stop at about 9:21 p.m. when police say Coleman fled.

A witness to the chase estimated they were traveling at speeds of up to 100 m.p.h. southbound on I-55 with more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles in pursuit.

The vehicle entered a wooded area off Eminence Row and a Madison Police vehicle struck a tree trying to avoid the suspect's vehicle, police said. No injuries were reported.

Investigators recovered from the Jetta 17 doses of ecstasy, 13 doses of hydrocodone along with marijuana and plastic bags and scales police believe were used for distribution.

A semiautomatic handgun was also discovered, along with a license plate inside the vehicle registered to a separate vehicle.

Coleman has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, felony fleeing a law enforcement officer and multiple traffic violations.

He also received a citation for window tint violation.

He remains in custody, but no bond information was available for him at press time Wednesday.