June 26, 2025 11:30 a.m.  

Deputies jailed a man for allegedly eluding law enforcement in a stolen vehicle on Tuesday night.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said at 11:00 p.m. a deputy observed a stolen vehicle near a business in the 4800 block of Northeast Stephens Street. The vehicle proceeded northbound to a nearby business where the driver turned into the parking lot as the deputy attempted to detain him. The driver initially stopped but was only semi-compliant for a short time before refusing to comply at all. The driver then fled rapidly from the deputy, with the vehicle going over a curb into the next parking lot where the driver turned around wildly, with the stolen vehicle striking the front of the patrol vehicle in the process and causing significant damage.

The report said the driver continued to flee out of the parking lot, high centering the vehicle on another curb before it was pinned in by two patrol vehicles. The driver reportedly continued to be uncooperative and kept reaching down into the vehicle. The man allegedly resisted after being placed in handcuffs.

The driver briefly calmed down again while enroute to corrections but became highly uncooperative again once he was inside the jail. The man refused to identify himself or answer any questions. He was initially lodged under the name John Doe but was eventually identified as 34-yaer-old Derald Baze. Baze was charged with attempting to elude police in a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, failure to carry or present a license, and first-degree criminal mischief.

Baze was detained without bail.