Elyria police arrest man after pursuit that ended on Route 20

ELYRIA — A 28-year-old Elyria man was arrested Thursday by Elyria police after a pursuit stemming from an accusation that stole a car at gunpoint from victims near Lorain Boulevard on Wednesday evening. Desmond Lewis is charged with receiving stolen property, failure to comply with a lawful order and obstructing official business, all felonies, and operation in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of others, a misdemeanor. Additional charges could follow. Elyria police officers responded Wednesday night to a report of a carjacking near Lorain Boulevard, north of Bell Avenue. The victims told police that a light-skinned short-haired Black man in his early 30s, wearing a black jacket and pants, brandished a firearm and took the vehicle. Two Elyria officers spotted the vehicle on West Avenue near Oberlin Road at 9:57 a.m. Thursday and tried to pull it over, but the driver — later identified as Lewis — instead headed south on state Route 301, pursued by police. Lewis got onto the eastbound ramp to U.S. 20 but then turned, traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, police said. The car experienced apparent engine failure not long after it entered the highway and came to rest just a few hundred feet west of state Route 301. It took about 30 minutes of negotiations — with Elyria police bolstered by the Lorain County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio Highway Patrol — for Lewis to surrender. The roadway in that area was closed until that occurred. There were no injuries during the alleged carjacking or pursuit. Lewis, police said, has an extensive violent criminal history involving firearms. "I'm proud of the coordinated efforts by our officers and partner agencies in resolving this incident without injury," Elyria Police Chief James Welsh said. "These situations are unpredictable and dangerous, but through teamwork, we were able to bring it to a peaceful conclusion and bring a known violent offender into custody." The Elyria Police Department is continuing the investigation into the carjacking. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Anthony DeMarco at (440) 326-1201 or ademarco@cityofelyria.org.