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PARKERSBURG -- A vehicle reported stolen out of Vienna was spotted in Belpre on Wednesday night, and the driver fled into Parkersburg before crashing into two police cruisers.
Michelle Marie Venham, 26, 1936 Barth Road, Belpre, was being held without bond as a fugitive from justice at the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County after being charged with a felony count of fleeing with reckless indifference.
Parkersburg Police Chief Scott Elliott said Venham was wanted for parole violations out of Washington County.
The pursuit began after a scanner on a Belpre Police officer's cruiser identified the plates on a 2001 Toyota Highlander as being reported stolen, Belpre Police Chief Terry Williams said. The officer ran the plates and confirmed the report, then attempted to pull the vehicle over, he said.
The vehicle, with Venham at the wheel, fled across the Belpre Bridge into downtown Parkersburg, Elliott said. Parkersburg Police were notified and joined the pursuit.
"We were able to assist them, catching up to the pursuit somewhere in the area of 13th Street," Elliott said. "The lady just started doing circles around the neighborhood up there."
According to a criminal complaint filed in Wood County Magistrate Court, the Highlander traveled along Lynn Street, 19th Street and St. Marys Avenue at speeds in excess of 60 mph.
In the vicinity of 16th and Lynn streets, Elliott said, the vehicle took a turn wide and one of the pursuing officers thought it was headed toward some people on the sidewalk.
"He interjected his patrol vehicle between her and the pedestrians, to prevent the vehicle from striking the people standing there," Elliott said.
The resulting collision turned the suspect's vehicle around, the complaint said. It accelerated and struck a second cruiser.
"She jumped out of the car and took off running," Elliott said.
Venham was apprehended about 20 feet away from the vehicle and taken to WVU Medicine Camden Clark for medical clearance, Elliot said. She was arraigned Thursday in Wood County Magistrate Court where bond on the fleeing charge was set at $100,000. But because of the out-of-state warrants she remained in custody without bond, according to court documents.
Williams said Venham will also face charges from Belpre.
Elliott said both cruisers and the Highlander had to be towed from the scene. The Highlander was reported stolen out of Vienna on Feb. 24, the criminal complaint said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.