A Perry man was arrested Friday on a Dallas County warrant in connection with an Aug. 9 incident in which he allegedly eluded patrolling officers of the Perry Police Department.
Joshua Andrew Hike, 36, of 915 W. Fifth St., Perry, was charged with second or subsequent offense eluding, felon in possession of a firearm, first-offense possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, second-offense possession of a controlled substance-marijuana, reckless driving, failure to maintain control, failure to obey traffic control device, failure to obey stop sign and yield right of way, failure to have a valid license, criminal mischief and open container.
The incident began Aug. 9 in the 600 block of W. Third Street in Perry, where an officer of the Perry Police Department recognized Hike as the driver of a Ford pickup truck and knew his license was suspended. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Hike allegedly sped away.
The pickup left the city limits of Perry and “later entered a ditch, drove into a cornfield and went back onto M Avenue and continued northbound,” according to court records. The truck was soon afterward found “abandoned in the middle of the road northbound on M Avenue,” and Hike allegedly fled the scene on foot.
The vehicle was impounded and searched, and a warrant for Hike’s arrest was ordered Thursday in Dallas County District Court and served Friday. Hike is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $20,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 28 in Dallas County District Court.
Hike was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2010 in Dallas County District Court. He was convicted of eluding in 2011 in Dallas County District Court. He was convicted of criminal mischief in 2012 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
