Car Crashes into Wesley’s Tennis Court Fence

Car crashes into Wesley

By Kristen Griffith and Brandon Smith, The Whetstone

A car crashed into Wesley’s tennis court fence on Cecil Street when attempting to drive away from Dover Police about 8 p.m. on Dec. 3.

“I heard a car coming extremely fast across the street,” said an eyewitness. “Then I looked out the window and saw a car coming from the New Street direction with a cop car in pursuit.”

Police said Alex Durham, 24, the driver of the car, was arrested after running through the fenced tennis courts and trapping himself inside. The passenger, Ayana Caldwell, also 24, was arrested as well.

They were arrested on drug and firearm charges, according to Dover Police.

The red Pontiac Grand Am Durham was driving nearly hit a police car as it was driving on the wrong side of the road, according to police.

Police said when they attempted to stop the Pontiac, it sped off.

Durham lost control, which resulted in one-half of the car on the tennis court, and the other half on the sidewalk.

Police said Durham was under the influence.

The eyewitness said cop cars were coming from every direction.

“Governors, Mary, Cecil, cops were everywhere,” the eyewitness said, naming the streets around Wesley’s tennis court.

The eyewitness, who did not want to be named for the protection of her family, also said she saw three or four passengers in the car, although the police report never mentioned any other passengers.

“Somebody from the right side [either from the passenger seat or the back seat] bolted through the tennis court parking lot with at least six or seven police officers in pursuit,” the eyewitness said.

She said one or two people stayed in the car.

She also said she heard an officer shout “gun” when chasing the man through the tennis courts.

“With all that went on, the cops were professional,” she said. “They didn’t pull any guns out, never got loud, never snatched anyone up.”

She said the police arrested a bystander who refused to back away from the crime scene, but there wasn’t much action after that.

She said police were on the tennis court looking for something.

Police said they found a stolen Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.

Durham was taken to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $81,800 cash bond while Caldwell was released on an unsecured bond.