By Marci Piltz

Record-Courier staff writer

A Brimfield police officer suffered minor injuries when his cruiser was struck by a vehicle fleeing police late Wednesday. The suspect, a 35-year-old Brimfield man, was later arrested and charged with six counts of felonious assault against police officers as well as possession of cocaine and operating a vehicle under the influence.

"He was absolutely driving like a maniac," Brimfield Police Chief David Blough said of James E. Gresko, of 3031 S.R. 43.

Gresko is currently being held at the Portage County jail in lieu of 10 percent of a $1 million bond.

Blough said K-9 patrolman Christopher Adkins was treated and released from Akron City Hospital following the crash. Adkins suffered a concussion along with some cuts and bruises, Blough said. The K-9 in Adkins vehicle, Joker, was not injured during the crash, Blough said.

According to Blough, the incident began shortly after midnight when police responded to a call of a male subject in the roadway in the 3000 block of S.R. 43. Upon police arrival, the subject -- later identified as Gresko -- jumped into a white, 2004 Hummer H2 sport utility vehicle and fled southbound on S.R. 43.

Officers from the Brimfield Police Department began a pursuit, joined by units from the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Portage County Sheriff's Office, Blough said. Speeds during the pursuit reached more than 100 mph, Blough said.

Gresko fled southbound on S.R. 43 to the area of U.S. 224, then drove across four lanes of travel at the intersection before driving back towards pursuing officers, attempting to strike the cruisers. Gresko proceeded back north on S.R. 43, attempted to strike a Brimfield police unit head-on, Blough said, then traveled left of center and did strike a Brimfield cruiser driven by Adkins.

Gresko's vehicle lost its front driver's side tire in the crash; however, he continued driving north on S.R. 43, Blough said.

Officers were able to box Gresko's vehicle in on the bridge over the Mogadore Reservoir, and at that time Gresko refused to exit the vehicle. He instead continued to attempt to move the vehicle, Blough said, aiming at officers who were now out of their vehicles.

To stop Gresko from causing further injuries, Blough said officers disabled the Hummer by firing shots into the remaining tires and also into the engine. Gresko was then removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest.

"The first thing he said to me was 'Why didn't you guys shoot me?'" Blough said. "I told him, 'You were unarmed. We're not going to shoot you.' I did tell him that if his vehicle wasn't disabled, though, and he continued toward officers we would have taken further action, but everybody was lucky here."

Blough said Gresko later told police he didn't know why he fled.

"He didn't appear to be entirely under the influence of alcohol, but he had stated that he'd used cocaine earlier in the evening, and we did recover some powdered cocaine from the interior of the vehicle," Blough said.

Gresko was arraigned Thursday in Portage County Municipal Court. A preliminary hearing has been set for Wednesday in Portage County Municipal Court in Kent.