What started off as a routine traffic stop in Lawrence County bythe Mississippi Highway Patrol evolved into a chase that ended atthe Brookhaven Police Department Friday evening.

MHP Public Affairs Officer Rusty Boyd said Trooper CharlesMeyers stopped Durrell Washington, 32, of Brookhaven, for speedingin his Toyota Land Rover.

During the stop, Meyers detected a strong marijuana smell comingfrom Washington’s vehicle, Boyd said. Washington was asked to exitthe vehicle, and at some point an altercation ensued, during whichhe jumped back in the Land Rover and left the scene.

“It was a routine traffic stop,” said Meyers. “But the subjectran and the pursuit terminated in the Brookhaven PD parkinglot.”

Meyers followed him along Highway 84 toward Brookhaven, withadditional units in pursuit, when the Brookhaven Police Departmentwas notified by Washington’s mother that he was en route to thepolice station. Officials on the scene of the arrest saidWashington proceeded to the Brookhaven Police Department because hewas afraid of bodily harm at the hands of the state troopers.

According to Boyd, when the subject stopped in the policedepartment parking lot, there was a further altercation when heresisted arrest and troopers had to subdue him.

Troopers then found marijuana while searching the vehicle, Boydsaid.

Washington was taken into custody and transported to theLawrence County Jail. He was charged with speeding, failure toyield to the blue lights and siren, no insurance, disorderlyconduct, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana in a motorvehicle.