PARKERSBURG - A Gilmer County resident was in the North Central Regional Jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond after leading police through a four-county chase early Sunday.
Waitman Lee Frederick, 49, currently in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, was charged in Wood County Sunday with fleeing from an officer while driving under the influence. According to the regional jail Web site the charge against Frederick was Wood County's first felony for 2010 and there are four misdemeanor charges pending in Gilmer County
Gilmer County Sheriff Mickey Metz said the chase began in Glenville around 1 a.m. Sunday after police received a call about a possible DUI.
Metz said a Glenville officer pursued Frederick's vehicle and he joined the pursuit after they passed him in Glenville. He said Frederick was pursued on West Virginia 5 west to Third Run Road which lead to W.Va. 47 at Burnt House where they were joined by Gilmer County Dep. Mike Wheeler.
"It wasn't a high-speed chase," Metz said. "He did mostly 40 mph to 50 mph on Route 5 and maybe 60 mph on (W.Va.) 47."
Metz said other counties were alerted about the chase. He said the West Virginia State Police joined the pursuit in Gilmer County and they were met by Wood County deputies and state police at the county line.
"Wood County put out the spike strips and then when Wheeler pulled up beside him he hit him and then slid into the guardrail," he said.
Metz said Frederick was out on bond on a domestic violence charge in Gilmer County at the time of the chase.
