A Richmond man who had been out of prison less than three weeks will now spend an additional four years in prison for drug offenses.
Jayquan Jermaine Harris, 30, was sentenced Wednesday for possession of fentanyl and cocaine with the intention of distribution.
According to court documents, his arrest came after he fled from police during a routine traffic stop, traveling at more than 100 mph before crashing on Interstate 95.
On Sept. 24, 2023, a Virginia State Police trooper observed Harris run a red light and attempted a traffic stop.
Instead of stopping, Harris accelerated, driving approximately 65 miles per hour in a residential area in the rain. Harris continued to flee for more than 13 miles driving double the speed limit, running stop signs, backing into the police car and traveling on the wrong side of the road.
Harris eventually entered Interstate 95 northbound at speeds greater than 100 miles per hour before running into a median and striking a wall.
After the vehicle came to a stop, the trooper approached the car and observed a plastic bag containing suspected narcotics between the cupholders and the right passenger seat.
The suspected drugs were tested and confirmed to be 5.59 grams of a solid containing cocaine, 7.73 grams of powder containing cocaine and 9.31 grams of powder containing fentanyl.
This wasn’t Harris’ first drug offense. In 2021, as law enforcement performed a traffic stop of a vehicle, Harris and another passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot. In that incident, officers found a bag in the backseat of the car with 10 grams of crack cocaine, 17 grams of heroin, 20 grams of marijuana and Harris’ identification card.
Harris was convicted in February 2023 of two counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances. Harris was in custody until Sept. 5, 2023, less than three weeks before he committed the offense for which he was sentenced this week.
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Crystal Graham
