BY JENNIFER BOWEN - News-Democrat
An East St. Louis man with an outstanding warrant from St. Louis parked his car in the middle of the street early Monday and tried to outrun a sheriff's deputy and his K-9 partner.
St. Clair County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Biggs spotted a silver Chevrolet Lumina parked in the middle of 54th Street near Caseyville Avenue in Washington Park around 2:30 a.m. Monday. The car was turned off and had no lights on. Biggs could see two people sitting in the car, according to the police report.
Biggs was patrolling with his K-9 partner, Jesse, and when he pulled up behind the vehicle the driver turned the car on, turned on the lights and started to drive away.
Bezell Lee. - Provided/BND
The car pulled up to a stop sign where the driver jumped out and fled, said St. Clair County Sheriff's Capt. Steven Johnson. Because there was a second person still in the vehicle, Biggs called for assistance and Deputy Kevin Kocurek arrived to help. The passenger in the car yelled at Biggs and told him the man on foot was carrying a gun, according to the report.
The passenger left the area while Biggs and Kocurek were chasing the subject. He has not yet been identified.
Bezell Lee, 26, of 726 Pershing, ran through yards, jumping fences and frequently changing direction as he attempted to escape from Biggs.
Biggs warned Lee to stop or he would release Jesse. Lee did not stop running and the K-9 was released.
Jesse caught Lee and held him with a bite on his arm. Lee continued to fight and put Jesse in a headlock in an attempt to free himself from the K-9's bite.
Lee was handcuffed and secured by Biggs and Kocurek and an ambulance called to treat the bite wounds Lee received from Jesse.
Police learned he had an active felony probation violation warrant out of St. Louis for drug charges and a revoked Illinois drivers license.
Lee refused to be transported by ambulance but was instead taken by squad car to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville where he was treated and released into police custody. He was taken to the St. Clair County Jail.
"Even a simple traffic stop can turn into something more dangerous," Johnson said. "Police officers always have to be on their guard."
Lee has been charged with improper parking on the roadway, failure to wear a seatbelt, illegal transportation of alcohol, driving with a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and resisting arrest.
He remains in custody in the St. Clair County Jail. His bond on the traffic charges and the resisting arrest charge was set at $4,000. He is being held without bond on the St. Louis probation violation.
