Police chase leads to two arrests under the influence of alcohol

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia – A police chase in Chesapeake resulted in a crash and the suspect was taken into custody along with two other drivers for drunken driving after they allegedly drove through the crash scene and nearly struck officers.

Virginia State Police (VSP) said it all started early Sunday morning around 1:20 a.m. when troopers attempted to stop a 2019 Nissan Altima for speeding on Interstate 64 near mile marker 296 in Chesapeake. Troopers said the Altima refused to stop and a chase began.

The Altima eventually exited onto Military Highway, and after running a red light at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Greenwood Drive in Portsmouth, it collided with a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox.

The driver of the Equinox was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the driver of the Altima, 47-year-old Phillip Gassaway II, was arrested and charged with loss of control, failure to carry identification, reckless driving, fleeing police, driving with a suspended license and aggressive driving. He was also wanted for a 2019 probation violation.

Police said while they were working at the scene of the accident, a 2012 Dodge Ram drove through, nearly hitting officers. The driver, 35-year-old Christian Edmonds of Glen Allen, was reportedly uncooperative and was arrested for DUI after further investigation.

While Edmonds was being arrested and taken to a VSP vehicle, another vehicle, this time a BMW, drove through the original accident scene and again nearly collided with a police officer and Edmonds.

The driver of the BMW, 29-year-old Keshayla Griffin of Chesapeake, was stopped at the scene of the accident and eventually arrested for drunk driving.