August 5, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
A Clinton man was arrested and charged recently after leading Weatherford Police on a high-speed pursuit.
According to a probable cause affidavit, 21-year-old Tanner Michael Wells was arrested on July 28 and charged recently of endangering others while eluding or attempting to elude police. The report said Wells was allegedly clocked by a Weatherford Police Officer going 84 mph on westbound Interstate 40. While the officer attempted to pull the suspect over, Wells would speed up and reach speeds of 120 mph. Wells would exit the interstate at State Highway 54 and continue to be pursued as he headed south on the highway. A mile later, the vehicle would pull into a business parking lot where police witnessed a passenger, later identified as 37-year-old Jesse Dale Wells, exit the vehicle while it was moving. This allowed the pursing officers to detain both suspects and bring the chase to an end.
While securing the vehicle a third passenger was located inside the vehicle. She later identified herself as the girlfriend of the driver and told police that the younger Wells had allegedly picked up methamphetamine, and his uncle Jesse Wells from Oklahoma City, and had decided to run from the police due to the fact that his uncle had active warrants out for his arrest. She also stated that during the chase, the methamphetamine was thrown out of the vehicle.
During a search of the suspects, police reported that they found a plastic bag with a green leafy substance on Tanner Wells, and it would later test positive for marijuana. Police say a meth pipe was found on Jesse Wells.
According to court records, in addition with the felony eluding charge, Tanner Wells was also charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – a misdemeanor. His next court date is scheduled for August 19.
