Police were involved in a pair of vehicle pursuits in New Philadelphia Wednesday, both ending with the suspect crashing the car and going to jail.
The first one happened just after 2 a.m. when a 36-year-old New Philadelphia man allegedly stole a 2005 Town & Country van from a residence on the east side of town. He drove it about three miles across town and hit two vehicles on Tarpon Circle before stopping. New Philadelphia Police took the suspect to jail. He was arraigned Thursday on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and fleeing and eluding, both felonies, and released on his own recognizance.
Later, the State Highway Patrol initiated another pursuit on I-77 Wednesday afternoon after a patrolman saw a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee swerve out of its lane. Post Commander Lt. Johnnie Maier says the driver failed to stop near the Schneider’s Crossing exit. The vehicle exited onto U.S. 250, crossed the median, crashed into a guardrail and a traffic sign but was still able to exit onto West High Avenue.
Maier says officers arrested the 35-year-old Akron man in the Walmart parking lot, who was driving a rental car that he said was rented by a family member. He said he didn’t stop because he was nervous.
“This driver did have two active warrants. One out of Portage County and one out of State Highway Patrol in Summit, so that could be related to why he may not have stopped.”
The suspect is being held in the Tuscarawas County Jail, with bail set at 15-thousand dollars. Charges include felony fleeing and eluding plus several traffic citations. He has a hearing scheduled for January 29th.
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