Video After The Jump
CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - The East Cleveland woman accused of leading several law enforcement agencies on a dangerous high-speed chase March 22 is no stranger to traffic stops.
Cleveland 19′s Investigative Unit learned Imani Edwards, 23, has been found guilty of at least four traffic violations since 2017.
According to court records in Orangeburg County in South Carolina, Edwards was cited for:
- Sept. 1, 2018 - Driving under suspension
- July 3, 2018 - Failure to obey traffic-control devices
- Nov. 11, 2017 - Driving vehicle at greater speed than is reasonable under conditions
- Sept. 27, 2017 - Speeding, more than 15 but less than 23 mph over the speed limit (charge amended to speeding, 10 mph or less over the speed limit)
Edwards, who used to live in Akron, was also cited by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 2014 for failure to control.
She pleaded guilty and received a $169 fine and two points on her license.
Edwards is currently charged with felonious assault and fleeing in connection with Friday’s multi-jurisdictional pursuit.
According to investigators, a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol attempted to stop Edwards on I-77 northbound in Broadview Heights for illegal window tinting.
Edwards failed to comply and led troopers and police with Newburgh Heights and Cuyahoga Heights on chase that eventually ended on East 105th Street near St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland.
Dash camera footage shows Edwards smashing into several law enforcement vehicles on I-77 near the Pershing Avenue exit.
Newburgh Heights Police Chief John Majoy praised the work of the officers, who never fired their weapons.
“Their lives were at stake," said Majoy. “She almost ran them over. That’s a 2,000 pound weapon coming at you, they jumped out of the way just in the nick of time to save their own lives.”
When the pursuit finally ended and Edwards was taken into custody, an officer can be heard on a body camera asking her, “What are you doing?”
“I was on my way to work,” Edwards responded.
“Do you have any idea what you just did?” the officer asked.
“Yes sir,” said Edwards.
“Obviously you don’t,” the officer replied.
In addition to the felony criminal charges, Edwards was also cited for tinted windows, no seat belt, and driving under suspension.
The case has been bound over to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
Edwards remains in jail on $100,000 bond.
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