Cortland man arrested after auto chase with police

By ALAN EDRINN

A Cortland man led DeKalb police on a chase through a lawn and over a sidewalk Wednesday night in the 900 block of West Hillcrest Drive.

According to the police report, police parked in the 900 block of West Hillcrest observed a vehicle squealing its tires at the intersection of Greenbrier Road and Hillcrest Drive at about midnight.

The vehicle then turned westbound at a high rate of speed onto Hillcrest Drive. Several pedestrians were seen standing in the area.

Police followed the vehicle as it turned south into the parking lot at 832 W. Hillcrest Drive. When police pulled into the parking lot, the vehicle turned west behind the building and drove between two lawns in the 800 block of W. Hillcrest Drive.

Police then observed the vehicle cross the south sidewalk at 800 W. Hillcrest Drive and continued westbound.

Police followed the vehicle to the parking lot at 910 W. Hillcrest Drive, where it came to a stop. The driver, later identified as Derek Armstrong, 22, of Cortland, exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

Police then ordered Armstrong to stop, and he was placed in handcuffs.

Armstrong was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, fleeing, driving without insurance, driving with license suspended, driving on the sidewalk and for squealing tires.