ELYRIA — An Elyria man was arrested and sent to the hospital for a mental evaluation after he fled police who were responding to a complaint about him.

Herbert L. Johnson, 55, was charged with obstructing official business before being sent to EMH Regional Medical Center.

Officers were called to 327 Broad St. about 9:30 Sunday morning after receiving a report of a man standing in the road with his pants down. Officers found Johnson, but did not find him to have his pants down, according to a police report.

Johnson was instructed to move out of the street, and officers moved on, the report said.

Officers met up with Johnson again at Broad Street and Kerstetter Way and found him to be talking irrationally to himself, the report said. Johnson refused to tell officers his name, stating only that he did not want to go to jail.

Police told Johnson they only wanted to talk to him about his actions, but he took off running, the report said.

As an officer followed Johnson in his cruiser, Johnson lost his balanced and fell face-first onto the concrete walkway, the report said.

Officers reported that Johnson was babbling incoherently and was wet and smelled like urine. When they asked him about the smell, he replied that he “smelled like the scum of Elyria,” according to the report.

Johnson also mentioned that he was upset about his rock that he lost because he did not get an opportunity to name it, the report said.

SHEFFIELD TWP. — An all-terrain vehicle rider was injured when he struck a tree stump around 6:25 p.m. Monday.

Teddy Barker, 27 or 28, was injured outside his family’s home in the 5300 block of Fleming Avenue by the intersection of Vincent Avenue across from the Vincent Elementary School at 2303 North Ridge Road. Barker told his family that the ATV flipped over on top of him after colliding with the stump. Jim Phillips, Barker’s stepfather, said Barker was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. He is listed in fair condition this morning.

Megan Stephens, Barker’s sister-in-law and Robin Christopher, Barker’s stepsister, said they ran to him after hearing a loud thump from the crash. Stephens said Barker complained of injuring his right leg and shoulder.

“He said it happened so fast he (didn’t) really know what happened,” Stephens said. “A boy walked over to us and said, ‘Hey, I just found your brother and I got the four-wheeler off of him, but he wrecked it.’ ”

The accident occurred just outside the fence of Phillips backyard on a strip of grass between the fence and Vincent Avenue. ATVs are illegal to ride on public property in Ohio except on land posted as permitting them or on private property unless permitted by the property owner.

Between 1982 and 2009, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 10,281 deaths in ATV accidents nationally including 320 in Ohio, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Ohio had the 13th highest death rate in the nation.

Contact Evan Goodenow at 329-7129 or egoodenow@chroniclet.com.

The Indians opened a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday with a 6-3 win at Progressive Field.

Josh Tomlin got the win, allowing two runs on three hits over seven innings. The right-hander, who became the first MLB pitcher since 1919 to last five innings in each of his first 209 career starts, didn’t allow a hit through six innings.

Austin Kearns’ first home run of the season — a three-run shot in the seventh — put Cleveland in front 4-2.

CLEVELAND — A longtime proponent of interleague play, Indians manager Manny Acta sounds as though he’s changing his tune a bit.

“I am a purist but I think (the American League’s) the only one that doesn’t get anything out of it,” Acta said. “We lose a guy (designated hitter) in our lineup and also put a pitcher out there that doesn’t hit all year.

“What’s the downside for the National League (at American League parks), they don’t have a pitcher hit?”

Acta was especially displeased with Major League Baseball schedule-maker, who has his club play nine straight games on the road at National League parks, which kept one of its hottest hitters — DH Travis Hafner — out of the lineup. It is the second straight season the Indians have endured such a trip.

“Other than continue to whine, there’s not much you can do about it,” Acta said. “But I don’t think we can take it for three years in a row. I don’t think they can do that. They have to do something.”

Hafner was back in a starting role Monday, bringing his team-leading .341 batting average, seven home runs and 30 RBIs. He went 2-for-5 with a walk and an RBI during the interleague road swing — all as a pinch hitter.

“It was painful going through nine games without him in the lineup, especially with the way he was swinging the bat,” Acta said. “He’s a big part of our lineup. We’re very happy to have him back.”

After being swept by the Giants on the first leg of the NL road trip, Cleveland won four of the next six games to finish the year 11-7 in interleague play. The Indians won just five of 18 games against NL opponents in 2010.

Wounded Wahoos

Acta said Carmona underwent an MRI on his injured right leg, with results available after the game. The right-hander, who sustained the injury during an awkward fall while running to first base Saturday, is scheduled to start Thursday.

(bullet) First baseman Matt LaPorta (right ankle sprain) ran the bases for the first time Monday, also taking batting practice and participating in fielding drills.

Acta said LaPorta would go through another workout today before the Indians make a decision on whether he needs a minor league rehab assignment.

Star struck

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and closer Chris Perez met with reporters a day after being selected to the All-Star Game for the first time via the player vote.

Despite much better numbers, Cabrera lost out on a starting job, finishing behind New York’s Derek Jeter in fan voting.

“He’s very good,” Cabrera said of Jeter. “I respect him. I’m just happy to be going.”

Perez received the news after arriving back from Florida, where he attended the funeral of his grandmother — a big baseball fan.

“Obviously, when I started playing, she followed me,” Perez said. “She watched every game, knew everybody on the team and their stats. She was a big time fan.”

Mr. Professional

Speaking of Jeter, the Yankees shortstop was activated from the disabled list and was in the lineup for the series opener Monday, continuing his quest for 3,000 hits in Cleveland. He entered Monday with 2,994 hits.

“I can’t wait for him to get it done,” Acta said. “Has anybody represented this game better than that guy? He’s one of the true few legends that’s still playing.

“If Major League Baseball opens a school on how to play the game, he and guys like Tom Glavine should be teaching.”

Jeter might not play in all three games but he has flourished against the Indians throughout his 15-year career. In 124 games against Cleveland entering Monday, Jeter was batting .343 (168-for-490) with 10 homers and 66 RBIs.

Minor details

Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez improved to 9-2 with a 2.46 ERA for Triple-A Columbus, allowing two runs on five hits over eight innings of a 4-2 victory over Louisville on Sunday. … Clippers outfielder Ezequiel Carrera stole his 30th base Sunday. He had been caught stealing just four times through Sunday.

Incoming

A day after signing 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Dorssys Paulino, the Indians agreed to terms with four more Latino players — OF Francisco Miguel (Dominican Republic), LHP Edgar Pineda (Venezuela), OF Omar Sanchez (Venezuela) and OF Anthony Santander (Dominican Republic).

All four players are 16.

Roundin’ third

The Indians entered Monday having been in first place or tied for first in 82 of the last 88 days since April 7. … Entering Monday, Cleveland’s pitching staff owned a 2.92 ERA over the last 19 games. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Carrasco (8-4, 3.54) vs. Sabathia (11-4, 3.05).