A traffic stop leads to a chase and criminal charges against the 20-year-old Racine man

RACINE, WI – A traffic stop by two Racine police officers in an unmarked patrol car earlier this year
On the morning of Sept. 30, there was a chase and then the arrest of a 20-year-old Racine man who now faces 12 felony charges.

Jamar Esho is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule I controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, and Possession with intent to deliver narcotics, charged with six counts while out on bail.

Overall, the offenses carry a maximum penalty of 103 years and six months and a total fine of $260,000. Esho also faces obstruction charges.

Esho remains in custody at the Racine County Jail on a $2,500 bond and will be back in Racine County District Court at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 31 for a preliminary hearing.

Foot chase leads to arrest and criminal charges

According to the criminal complaint:

After police attempted to stop the defendant’s vehicle, it eventually came to a slow stop when Esho got out on the passenger side and began running. One officer joined the chase while the other remained with the vehicle and its three other occupants.

The chase eventually ended in an open lot across Sycamore Avenue, where Esho was taken into custody. Police found a small bag containing 17 blue round pills identified as oxycodone near where the defendant was arrested.

Police then checked Esho’s flight path at a residence on Byrd Avenue, where they noticed a door to a basement/laundry room on the ground floor was ajar. In one of the dryers they found a backpack that Esho had had with him when he escaped.

On top of the backpack was a 9mm pistol without a serial number, commonly referred to as a “ghost pistol.” The gun had a magazine with about 10 9mm rounds, the complaint states.

In the backpack, police found a bag of what later tested positive for 3.9 grams of cocaine, a bag of 23 pills that tested positive for 9.9 grams of MDMA, and a bag of 12 pills that tested positive for 5 .5 grams of MDMA and fentanyl were tested.

Esho admitted he owned the backpack but denied knowing what was inside. When he was told what the police had found, he said that “they were scamming him.” Court records show Esho has two prior felony convictions, including one for a drug offense in Kenosha County in 2023.

He also has a criminal case pending against him in Racine County on charges of possession of THC and narcotics.

In that case, Esho was released on $500 bail and ordered not to possess any controlled substances or commit any further crimes.