Columbia police charge man after driving through police barricade

Columbia police have charged a man they say rammed a police barricade Monday evening.

Chief Skip Holbrook said 55-year-old Franz Joseph Coetzee has been charged with reckless driving and failure to stop for blue lights.

Holbrook said Coetzee is accused of disregarding and hitting several bright-orange traffic cones and a large wooden barricade with his 1953 antique Morgan in the 4500 block of Devine Street shortly before 10 p.m.

Several S.C. Guardsmen were stationed at the barricade during the time of the incident, but none were injured Holbrook said.

After Columbia police attempted to make a traffic stop on Coetzee, he allegedly attempted to flee from the officers, Holbrook said.

Police continued to follow Coetzee until he eventually stopped and surrendered, Holbrook said.