Police: Gunman evades police, crashes car, speeds away, leaves gun behind

Boston Police report a guy who sped away from an attempted traffic stop at Highland and Centre streets in Roxbury around 11:15 p.m. yesterday crashed into an SUV down Highland at Marcella, kept on going and disappeared - after first abandoning his red Camry at Humboldt Avenue and Elbert Street.

According to police:

While operating their unmarked cruiser, officers observed a red Toyota sedan topped on a crosswalk at Heath Street and Columbus Avenue, clearly in violation of the Mass auto laws. Officers activated the blue lights and siren on their cruiser and attempted to make a stop of the motor vehicle near Highland and Centre Streets; however, the officers observed that the operator did not place the vehicle in park. Using the PA system on their cruiser, the officers instructed the operator to do so. Instead of complying with officers’ orders, the vehicle sped away at a high rate of speed. The officers lost sight of the car traveling on Marcella Street and disengaged their lights and siren, but broadcast the vehicle description over the police radio. Moments later, officers heard a loud crash, and upon reaching the intersection of Marcella Street and Highland Street, observed a Landrover SUV with damage to the front bumper and headlight. The operator advised officers that a red Toyota sedan had struck his vehicle and took off without stopping. While officers rendered aid to the motorist, they were approached by a passerby who advised officers that there was a firearm in the intersection of Marcella Street and Ritchie Street. Officers located and recovered the loaded Springfield Armory Model XD-9 firearm.