The incident, which unfolded on September 11th in Bratenahl, Ohio, began with a black BMW driving erratically near a police cruiser. The driver, later identified as 20-year-old Joseph Littlejohn, deliberately slowed down near the squad car before speeding off when the officers activated their sirens.
Dashcam footage captures Littlejohn engaging in a series of reckless maneuvers, including donuts, multiple U-turns, and even dancing in his vehicle as officers observed from a distance. It was later revealed that the BMW Littlejohn was driving had been reported stolen.
The suspect's black BMW doing donuts in the middle of an intersection as a police car watches from afar.
Initially, officers pursued Littlejohn but decided to disengage due to the increasing danger posed by his reckless behavior. Despite their attempts to de-escalate the situation, Littlejohn continued his dangerous antics, even driving on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.
The situation escalated further when, in a desperate bid to evade the police, Littlejohn reversed down the road at high speed, ultimately crashing into a parked police car and a utility pole. Another police cruiser then collided with Littlejohn’s BMW, bringing the chase to a halt.
Two police cars, one with front-end damage, surrounding a black BMW with its rear end smashed up against a utility pole.
Bodycam footage reveals the intense moments following the crash as Littlejohn attempted to flee on foot. He was quickly apprehended and subdued by officers, despite being tasered multiple times. Even after being handcuffed, Littlejohn continued to resist, prompting officers to restrain him further.
A police officer holding a taser struggles to restrain the suspect who is lying on the ground.
Throughout the arrest, Littlejohn repeatedly complained of difficulty breathing. As a precaution, EMS was called to the scene, and he was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Despite his claims, officers observed Littlejohn talking and even attempting to cover his face with his shirt, suggesting his breathing was not significantly impaired.
The suspect, now handcuffed, being loaded into the back of an ambulance.
Upon further investigation, authorities discovered a firearm inside the stolen BMW. Littlejohn was subsequently arrested and is facing numerous charges, including fleeing and eluding a police officer, possession of a weapon under disability, and receiving stolen property.
