Excessive-speed traffic stop leads to laundry list of charges

An 18-year-old man accused of passing a police officer at nearly 100 miles per hour with two juveniles in the car on March 9 was arrested and booked into Pinal County jail on a multitude of charges. 

Daniel J. Wilson is suspected of possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of endangerment, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, reckless driving, excessive speeds and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a probable-cause statement. 

Maricopa police attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by Wilson after it reportedly passed by an officer on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, just west of North Hartman Road. According to a probable-cause statement, Wilson was traveling at 96 mph in a 50 mph zone. 

The officer pursued Wilson, who appeared to continue accelerating and had trouble maintaining his lane, veering left and right, according to the statement. Maricopa police reported the officer reached 121 mph attempting to catch up. 

Wilson then abruptly slowed down, according to the statement, and made a sharp right turn onto North Porter Road. Wilson finally was stopped at West Adams, about 4 1/2 miles from the start of the pursuit. 

A records check showed that Wilson did not have a valid driver’s license, police said. 

During a search of the vehicle, officers found multiple small baggies containing a white powdery substance. Wilson told officers the baggies previously held cocaine, and that he last used it the previous day. 

Wilson was booked into jail and has a court date on March 17 at Pinal County Superior Court.