3 Arrested After Pursuit On I-94 In Racine: Sheriff

RACINE COUNTY, WI — Three men were arrested after their car fled a traffic stop on Interstate 94 near State Highway 20 Friday afternoon, according to the Racine County Sheriff's Office.

A deputy had stopped the Nissan Sentra and noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, but after another deputy arrived on the scene, the car sped away southbound on I-94, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said the car sped up to around 100 mph and exited the interstate onto State Highway 20. During a pursuit of the car, another deputy used stop sticks on the car, deflating its tires, the sheriff’s office said. The car continued and attempted to enter the interstate going northbound, but it lost control and went into the ditch on the STH-20 on-ramp, the sheriff's office said.

The driver ran away from the car and across the interstate, where he was taken into custody, the sheriff’s office said. The two passengers in the car were also taken into custody.

The driver of the vehicle was Lavell L. Payne Jr., 20, of Milwaukee, and the two passengers were Stephon J. Davis and Isaac C. Greer, of Milwaukee, the sheriff's office said.

Sheriff's deputies found a loaded .45 caliber Glock handgun, 20 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the car, the sheriff's office said, and nobody was injured during the course of events.

Payne was arrested and turned over to the Racine County Jail, the sheriff’s office said, and he was arrested on:

• 3 counts of recklessly endangering safety.
• Fleeing/eluding an officer.
• Possession of marijuana.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Carrying of a concealed weapon.

The Sheriff's Office said Davis, 18, was arrested on:

• Possession of marijuana.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Carrying of a concealed weapon.

The Sheriff's Office said Greer, 20, was arrested on:

• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Carrying a concealed weapon.