A Gainesville man was arrested early Tuesday morning after police said he stole a car, ran several stop signs and crashed into a house — all with a crack pipe in his jacket.
At about 3 a.m. Monday, 34-year-old Thomas C. Wright stole a car in the 1900 block of NW Seventh Place, according to a police report.
Early Tuesday morning, police watched Wright drive past a red light and hit a curb, according to a police report.
Police drove behind Wright and noticed he was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle, according to the report.
When the police car’s siren wailed, Wright refused to pull over and instead sped through stop signs, according to the report.
After a brief chase past several blocks, Wright tried to make a left turn and crashed into a brick house in the 900 block of SW Eighth Ave., Gainesville Police spokesman Officer Ben Tobias wrote in an email.
He then left the car and ran, according to the report. After commanding Wright to stop, police used a stun gun to detain him, later finding a driver’s license that was suspended in 2008.
In Wright’s jacket, police found a crack pipe lined with cocaine residue, according to the report.
Police arrested Wright on a total of 12 charges including grand theft auto, drug possession, and hit and run.
Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where he remains, as of press time, in lieu of a $55,000 bond.
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