Man flees traffic stop with Syracuse cop in car, arrested after dropping handgun

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man who tried to drive off during a traffic stop got into a fight with an officer in a moving vehicle before jumping from the car and throwing away a loaded gun, Syracuse police said.

At 10:38 p.m. Monday, Syracuse Police Sgt. David Metz and Officer Andrew Quinn spotted a Buick SUV that was backing out of a parking spot at 1811 E. Fayette St. in an unsafe manner, police said.

They pulled the car over and talked to the driver, Tyrell Martin, 25, and a passenger, Jerrell Allen, 26. Martin didn't have a driver's license and Quinn smelled marijuana, police said, Police said they told Martin get out of the car.

While Quinn was talking to Martin, Allen moved from the passenger seat to the driver seat of the car. He is accused of putting the car in drive and trying to drive away.

Metz tried to stop Allen, but was forced to pull himself into the car to keep from being crushed, police said. Quinn also tried to stop Allen, but lost his grip on Allen as the car sped away. Quinn fell backward.

Police said Allen sped through a parking lot, over a curb and through the pedestrian opening of a metal fence. Metz fought Allen for control of the car as Allen drove through a wooded area, going over some small trees. Then the car went directly toward a telephone pole at about 40 mph, police said.

When the car was about to crash Allen is accused of jumping from the moving vehicle.

Metz was between the passenger and driver seats. He managed to steer the car away from the pole and stop the vehicle before anyone got hurt, police said.

Quinn and Metz chased Allen. Police said the officers saw Allen take a loaded .40-caliber Glock from his waistband and drop it on the ground during the chase. They eventually tackled and handcuffed him.

While Quinn and Metz struggled to arrest Allen, they saw Martin go to the Buick, get in and drive off. Officer Travis Holmes found the car and Martin a short time later in the 200 block of Greenwood Place.

Allen, of 617 Mountainview Ave., Syracuse, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of marijuana, reckless driving, and several other vehicle and traffic violations.

Martin, of 426 Westmoreland Ave., Syracuse, was charged with unsafe backing, aggravated unlicensed operation, unlicensed operator, tampering with physical evidence, and second-degree obstruction of governmental administration.

Allen and Martin were held pending arraignment. Allen was ordered held at the Onondaga County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail or bail bond. He remains in jail. Martin was not listed as a resident of the jail.

During a traffic stop in 2008, Allen was one of several people in a car that police where police found 28 grams of cocaine, cash and a loaded handgun. Allen was accused of trying to throw away a bag of drugs as he got out of the car.

Jerrell Allen

Tyrell Martin

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