An Orangeburg man facing jail for failing to pay a $100 fine could serve a bit more time after he allegedly tried to flee from probation officials Tuesday morning.

“The offender, Naquan Bookhard, came into our office to report and we proceeded to arrest him for failure to pay his supervision fees,” state Probation, Pardon and Parole spokesman Peter O’Boyle said. “He resisted arrest and became involved in a struggle.”

That struggle spilled out onto St. Paul and Church streets when Bookhard and Probation Officer Frank Peterson crashed through the front glass door of the office, O’Boyle said.

Officials say Bookhard began running, with Peterson following.

A state trooper passing through the area spotted two men running down the street, one of them with a gun drawn. Determining the situation was a law enforcement issue, the trooper joined in.

When the suspect leaped into a vehicle, the trooper blocked the vehicle in only to have his Highway Patrol cruiser rammed, SCHP Lt. J.C. Filyaw said.

The trooper, who wasn’t injured, gave chase after the fleeing man but lost him in traffic.

The vehicle was later discovered at a local apartment complex, Filyaw said.

Bookhard was located at the hospital where he was receiving treatment for injuries he sustained when he fell through the glass door, O’Boyle said. Peterson also required several stitches to patch his injuries.

O’Boyle said Bookhard was on probation after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful carrying of a pistol. He had been sentenced to six months, suspended to one year of probation. He was also fined $327.

The 21-year-old Bookhard is now facing charges of malicious injury to real property for the shattered door and failure to stop for a blue light, O’Boyle said. Other charges are being considered, he said.

If he’s convicted, the broken door could saddle Bookhard with imprisonment and more fines while the failure to stop charge carries a sentence of 90 days to three years.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

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