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Cloverdale man faces numerous charges for fleeing police in Brazil
BRAZIL -- A 27-year-old Putnam County man is facing three felony charges and three misdemeanor counts after attempting to elude police during a traffic stop in Clay County.
Nicholas Shane Ritz, of Cloverdale, appeared Friday in Clay Circuit Court, pleading not guilty to felony charges of carrying a handgun without a license, possession of methamphetamine and resisting law enforcement. Ritz is also facing misdemeanor charges of possession of paraphernalia, driving while suspended and resisting law enforcement in the incident.
Ritz crashed his unplated vehicle early Wednesday in an alleged attempt to elude police who were trying to stop him for not having a license plate.
The Cloverdale man’s arrest came after police spotted the unplated vehicle at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Posey Street in Brazil around 2:30 a.m.
As the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle reportedly sped away, heading south on State Road 59 out of Brazil, according to police reports.
Ritz later crashed the truck into a ditch off SR 59 as he approached the intersection with County Road 700 North where another patrol car had pulled into the northbound lane.
After crashing, Ritz climbed out of the driver’s-side door while being ordered to show his hands. The suspect exited and started running when the second Brazil officer on the scene deployed a Taser. Ritz then stopped running, reportedly telling police, “OK, I’m done, I’m done.”
Meth was reportedly found on Ritz, who told police he had a gun in his vehicle but didn’t know where it was. The gun was later found in his vehicle along with drug paraphernalia.
Police also learned that Ritz had a suspended driver’s license and prior convictions, including a 2007 Clay County conviction for possession of precursors. He also had an active Putnam County warrant for petition to revoke probation in a 2015 case in which he was charged with driving with a suspended license and possession of paraphernalia.
At Friday’s initial hearing, bond was set at $10,000 with 10 percent allowed.