A St. Joseph man remains behind bars after his first court appearance on allegations he fled from Drug Strike Force investigators in a reckless manner, hitting at least two vehicles in the process and injuring one of the investigators.

Lance Pollard is charged with resisting arrest by fleeing. Because the incident allegedly involved the creation of subsstantial risk of serous physical injury, the charge is a class-e felony.

In court documents, investigators say Pollard, 26, refused to pull over when Strike Force officers tried to stop his vehicle on March 30 for what is described as part of an ongoing drug investigation. Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputy and Strike Force Member Billy Paul Miller says in a court affidavit that Pollard’s vehicle struck the Strike Force vehicle during Pollard’s alleged attempt to flee.

The affidavit goes on to assert that the crash injured one of the investigators, who required medical attention, and that Pollard’s vehicle hit other vehicles in a nearby parking lot.

Buchanan County Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart read the charges to Pollard during an initial court appearance via video from the county jail Friday. Pollard said he would apply for a public defender. He remains in custody, unable to post a $25,000 hybrid bond requiring a $5,000 cash deposit. At the request of the prosecutor, the judge added a condition of bail that he have no contact with an apparent witness in the case.

Judge Marquart scheduled the case for the preliminary hearing docket call May 19.