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CHASE ENDS WHEN CAR HITS HOUSE

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:58 AM CST

A Jefferson County man who reportedly admitted jumping out of a moving car that hit a house on Lee Springs Road on Sunday will have to post a $10,000 bond to be released from the county detention center while prosecutors review felony charges against him.

At a court hearing Monday, Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis set the bond after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Brian Avants, 33, with felony fleeing and felony criminal mischief.

Reading from an affidavit from sheriff’s investigator Jennifer Carr, Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said Deputy Harley Herron was on patrol Sunday on U.S. 79 South at Pinewood Drive when he saw a vehicle driven by Avants commit two traffic violations.

Reed said Herron stopped the vehicle and after Avants admitted he didn’t have a driver’s license, asked Avants for permission to search the vehicle.

“When he asked Mr. Avants to step out of the vehicle, Avants drove away, resulting in a chase,” Reed said. “Pine Bluff police officers also got involved in the pursuit, that ended when the vehicle hit a house at 9538 Lee Springs Road after Mr. Avants jumped out of it while it was still running.”

Reed said Avants was located later at another address and taken into custody. After waiving his right to an attorney, he admitted jumping out of the moving vehicle.

“He also admitted throwing a bag containing a syringe out of the vehicle during the chase but that bag was not found,” Reed said, adding that Avants had prior convictions dating back to 1998 and is currently on parole.

Damage to the house was estimated at over $1,000, Reed said.

Avants told the court he would try to hire his own attorney.

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