Reckless driver 'had to get his homeboy home'

After allegedly driving recklessly through Memorial High School’s parking lot during dismissal May 9 and leading resource officers on a car chase, a 17-year-old suspect told police he was just trying to get his homeboy home.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Christian Jdaris Smith II for evading arrest/detention June 8 for a frantic scene he allegedly caused in May. An assistant principal at Memorial High School flagged down two resource officers in reference to the reckless driver at about 3:30 p.m., Monday, May 9. Officers observed a white, four-door Kia driving recklessly through a crowd of students in the back parking lot, where buses pick up students.

“I approached the window to alert the driver to stop,” a PAISD officer wrote. “The operator looked at me and then turned the steering wheel toward my direction. The suspect vehicle then sped off southbound into oncoming traffic and nearly struck the right side of my body. At the very last second, I was able to move my right foot back from getting run over by the suspect’s back left tire.”

Smith fled for several blocks as officers gave chase with their overhead lights on and sirens blaring. In response, officers reported, “The suspect increased his speed and continued to flee for several blocks before the suspect then finally pulled into the entrance of the last baseball fields located on this road and stopped.”

Smith identified himself and admitted that he saw the officer knocking on the door, but left because “he had to get his homeboy home,” according to the probable cause affidavit.