By By Mary-Allison Lancaster Managing editor
What began as a routine traffic violation Tuesday afternoon turned into a cat and mouse chase and eventually ended in an arrest and the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons.
Nykell Lee Johnson, 25, was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Detention Center after officers chased him for more than five minutes.
Officials from the Escambia County Sheriff's Department and members of the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force measured the drugs seized from Johnson, which was determined to be about 62 grams of crack cocaine and 17 Lortab with an estimated street cost of $20 each, officials said.
Officials also seized a loaded shotgun, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, $134 in cash and a knife that Johnson was sitting on.
Officials attempted to stop Johnson at 10:57 a.m. on a routine traffic violation. Johnson failed to stop and police followed him into East Brewton where Johnson began throwing drugs out of the window while he made a complete circle through town.
Officials finally stopped Johnson at 11:05 a.m. and it was discovered he was in possession of drugs, a loaded firearm and had a revoked license. The license showed that Johnson's address was Route 1 Box 251 in Castleberry.
Johnson was charged with unlawful possession of crack cocaine, Lortab and marijuana second degree, driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.
Bond had not been set as of press time.