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Updated: 3:27 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 | Posted: 5:41 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
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By Adam Del Rosso, NEWS9 and Philip Stahl
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio and OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. —
One man is in jail and police are still searching for others after a report of shots fired turned into a high-speed chase that crossed state lines from Belmont to Ohio counties.
The incident started with a report of shots fired in the 4300 block of Franklin Street in Bellaire just before 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Bellaire Police Chief Mike Kovalyk said the shooting is believed to be a drug-related drive-by shooting. Shell casings were found from two different semi-automatic weapons and police believe there were at least two gunmen.
According to a news release from Bellaire police, the vehicle that was struck by bullets was still running with its headlights on when police arrived at the scene. The car was impounded and will be processed by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Bellaire police called Bridgeport police for help. Bridgeport police spotted the vehicle believed to be involved and a chase started at the intersection of Route 7 and Interstate 470. Kovalyk said the chase reached speeds of more than 106 mph on I-470 before the suspects exited at Elm Grove in Ohio County and crashed into a concrete barrier.
Officials said 21-year-old Clarence Burtam, who they said was the driver of the car, was taken into custody at the crash site in Elm Grove. Wheeling police Lt. Phil Redford said the two other men in Burtam's car ran away and police searched the area for them with no success.
As of noon Wednesday, police were still looking for two people who fled from the car on foot. The men are not believed to be from the local area, Kovalyk said.
Bellaire police said Bertram is from the Cleveland area and is believed to be on parole. He faces numerous charges and was arraigned Wednesday morning via video conference by Magistrate Patricia Murphy. Redford said he is being held on a fugitive from justice warrant out of Ohio and also faces charges of fleeing, obstruction and resisting arrest.
Redford said for the most part, the case will be in the hands of Bellaire police. He said the incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call police or the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crime Busters Tipline at 800-862-BUST. Tips can also be emailed to crimebusters@wtov.com.
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