Houma Man Leads Police In High Speed Chase, Escapes From Hospital

HOUMA, La. (KPEL) -- A Houma man is still on the loose following a bizarre series of events that saw him lead police in a high speed chase and then escape from the hospital after being taken there for minor injuries sustained during that chase.

WDSU in New Orleans reported this morning that police were called out to a business on Park Avenue in Houma at about 1 a.m. after 34-year-old Derrick Sneeze allegedly stole a bottle of alcohol.

Store employees were able to give police the license plate number to the car in which Sneeze made his getaway, and when they spotted it on Lafayette Street and tried to make a traffic stop, Sneeze allegedly drove away at a high rate of speed and ignored all traffic lights and signs, police told the television station.

The chase took police into Houma's east side and back into the west side, and it came to an end when Sneeze drove his car into a utility pole and several signs, causing his car to flip over, police said.

Sneeze fled on foot and eventually ended up on the roof of a home, where police eventually managed to talk him down, police said.

Police took Sneeze to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the crash, but when hospital personnel removed his handcuffs to perform a medical procedure, he allegedly escaped them and police.

Sneeze is facing charges of theft, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting arrest by flight, resisting arrest by giving false information, criminal damage to property, simple escape, and several traffic offenses relating to the high speed chase.

[via WDSU]