Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Dennis Palma, 32, led police officers in a high-speed pursuit of Pima, Safford and Thatcher before they crashed into San Jose Road early Sunday evening.

High-speed chase ends with crash east of Safford

John Johnson

john johnson news@gmail.com

GRAHAM COUNTY – A woman believed to be transporting illegal drugs took time out of a high-speed chase for law enforcement on Sunday to drop off her 10-year-old son at Safford High School before continuing the flight. She eventually crash landed east of Safford.

Dennis Palma, 32, of Safford, was arrested and charged with the Graham Count on charges of DUI, two counts of aggravated DUI, reckless driving, illegally evading law enforcement, criminal damage and possession of a dangerous drug. detained in an adult detention center. , drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and aggravated assault on a police officer.

After receiving anonymous information on the Text-A-Tip line at 5:20 p.m. that Parma was transporting drugs from Phoenix to the area, law enforcement took Parma’s car, a red Chevy SUV. I was looking for Parma was going through Vilas at the time, according to hints.

This scene could have come directly from the pages of the following Fast and Furious script. On Sunday evening, a Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputy began a traffic stop in his 2021 Chevrolet Trax SUV as he drove at a speed of 78 mph in a 65 mph zone on the highway. Did. 70 Just west of the cotton gin. Parma he stopped near the intersection with 1200 South (Patterson Mesa) and the lieutenant noticed a young male passenger in the back seat. After seeing items consistent with drug involvement, officers requested a search of Palma’s car, but she declined, at which point the lieutenant ordered the county’s K-9 her officer and her Kukui. and asked the handler to inspect the vehicle.

However, once Kukui was deployed, Palma escaped from his lieutenant and officer Pima, returned to his car, and drove away at high speed.

The flight would eventually cover three communities: Pima, Thatcher and Safford, with Palma zipping down Pima’s Main Street at 60 mph, circling Tidy Acres and over Clough Ranch Road at over 90 mph. I headed south.

Parma then proceeded on a dirt road northeast of Upper Leyton Road at about 65 mph and the chase was abandoned for safety reasons. However, the officers continued their pursuit at a slower pace, and while one lost sight, another father caught up in sight.

Police were not actively pursuing her at the time, but the Sheriff’s Department reported that members of law enforcement saw Parma passing through Thatcher and Safford, following traffic lights and stop signs. At that point, officers at Thatcher said a juvenile male had exited the vehicle at 14th Street at Safford High School and the vehicle was speeding south down 14th Street. He said he saw it done. Thatcher’s officers stayed with the young man and later released him to his father.

The lieutenant attempted to draw Parma on 12th and 26th Streets, but she was unyielding and the force pursued Parma east on Discovery Park Boulevard. She then entered the cemetery and Discovery Park where she continued west on Boulevard, dodged a series of spikes set up by the Safford police on her strip, and headed north on 20th Street. She drove through her park at her mobile home on 20th Street and Golf Course Road, dodging spike strips put up by the Thatcher Police Department before heading west on Golf Course Road in the oncoming lane.

Palma then hopped over the freeway and down Ray Lane to Thatcher’s First Street. The chase passed through multiple Thatcher streets, including Third Her Avenue and Church Street, and Parma was reportedly nearly hit by a car at a roundabout. Palma then entered the Thatcher High School campus, but was trapped with closed gates and law enforcement behind her.

With nowhere to go, Palma turned and drove towards the police officer, nearly crashing into the police officer’s car, causing him to take evasive maneuvers, the report said.

Parma continued to flee around farm roads and tennis courts before heading back towards the roundabout. She continued north toward First Avenue and nearly hit another Safford officer’s vehicle. Parma then headed east on Highway 70 at 100 mph, weaving through traffic and driving on the other side of the road toward oncoming traffic.

Parma reportedly tried to turn into San Jose Road after passing Safford, but was too fast and crashed into a fence. bottom.

A search of the car revealed 27 counterfeit blue oxycodone tablets containing several grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl. A small amount of marijuana and an open bottle of “shooter” alcohol were also in the vehicle.

After taking a blood sample for testing purposes, Parma was sent to prison for the above crime.