A Police chase from Youngstown’s South Side, through Downtown, and the East Side ended back on the South Side with the arrest of a man on drug, weapons, and other charges.

Officers say Benjamin Vazquez was driving a Ford Escape that ran a red light on South Avenue near Interstate 680, Wednesday afternoon.  When officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled, disobeying several traffic signals, according to police.

During the pursuit, police deployed spiked stop sticks on Lansdowne Boulevard near Woodcrest Avenue, which deflated two passenger-side tires.  Despite the tire damage, the vehicle continued to flee, driving through the Big Apple store parking lot on McGuffey Road.

Blocked by a tractor trailer, the Escape cut through a field to the Himrod Avenue Expressway.

The SUV didn’t stop until the right rear tire fell off the rim near Williamson Avenue.

A search of the vehicle turned up crack cocaine hidden under the driver’s seat and a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun under the back seat, according to the report.  Neither Vazquez nor his passenger claimed ownership of the firearm.

Vazquez was charged with possession of crack cocaine, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, having weapons under disability, and failure to comply with a police order. He was also cited for traffic violations. 

Further investigation revealed an active warrant for Vazquez for assault out of Streetsboro, Ohio.  Police also learned Vazquez had multiple open license suspensions.

Vazquez was transported to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office.