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Suspect arrested after police pursuit

The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Dec 7 2007 11:33 AM

Last Updated: Friday, Dec 7 2007 11:32 AM

A 53-year-old man tried grabbing an officer’s gun and fought with police after leading them on a chase in southwest Bakersfield.

Elliot Hardamon Jr., of Bakersfield, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, evading an officer, violently resisting an officer, trying to disarm a peace officer, carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle, carrying a loaded gun in public and possession of an unregistered gun, a BPD news release said. He was taken to Kern Medical Center for medical clearance and was booked into the Kern County Jail.

Hardamon, driving a 1988 black Mercedes Benz refused to stop for a police officer at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 3100 block of Stine Road, the news release said. He led officers on a pursuit through southwest Bakersfield that ended at the dead end of Art Street, near Calloway Drive. He drove through the dead end, up a dirt embankment and over railroad tracks, disabling his car.

Officers ordered Hardamon to put his hands up and get out of the car, but he refused. He reached several times to the floorboard of the car and officers, thinking he might be reaching for a weapon, twice deployed a Taser, according to the news release.

Police eventually broke the driver’s side window and pulled Hardamon through it.

Hardamon continued to fight, grabbing an officer’s holstered gun and partially removing it, the news release said. The officer was able to keep control of the gun and a Taser was again deployed.

Hardamon then complied and was taken into custody. Two officers received minor injuries but didn’t require medical treatment, the news release said.