Man in fair condition after chase with deputies

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
April 9, 2002
A Lauderdale County man remained in fair condition today at University Medical Center in Jackson after being injured in a chase with sheriff's deputies.
Leathel Naylor, 33, of Lizzie Road, was ejected from the 1997 Ford Explorer he was driving Saturday night after he ran off of Dees Road.
Maj. Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department said that Naylor drove to a "roadside safety checkpoint" at Highway 496 and Jeff Davis School Road at about 10:40 p.m.
Calhoun said Naylor fled the checkpoint after a deputy asked to see his driver's license.
Rosenbaum then pursued Naylor on Highway 496. About two-tenths of a mile down the highway, Calhoun said, Naylor turned left onto Dees Road and headed north.
Sheriff's Deputy Jim Bristow, who was traveling south on Dees Road, was headed toward Naylor and turned on his emergency lights in an attempt to stop him.
Calhoun said that Naylor passed Bristow's patrol car, lost control of his vehicle, and was ejected when he ran off the road.
Naylor was transported to a local hospital, then airlifted to Jackson. UMC spokesman Janis Quinn said today that Naylor had "multiple fractures."
Calhoun said the accident is being investigated by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Sgt. Ronnie Carter with the Highway Patrol said today he didn't have a copy of the report on the incident.
Naylor faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense; driving with a suspended license; reckless driving; failure to yield to emergency vehicles; and seat belt violation.