Michigan man arrested after fleeing police at speeds in excess of 117 mph
ELMORE — A Michigan man and his passenger were arrested Monday after they fled police in a 2019 Dodge Charger and reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour in western Ottawa County before crashing into a semitrailer and a home.
Zion Jackson, 18, of Wayne, Mich., the driver of the Dodge Charger, was charged with a third-degree felony for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and receiving stolen property, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
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Jackson's 17-year-old passenger faces the same charges.
Sheriff's deputies also arrested a second man believed to be linked to the Michigan driver and his passenger in a separate traffic stop.
Richard Horne, 25, of Detroit, was charged with two felony counts of improper handling of a firearm, receiving stolen property and possessing criminal tools.
A sheriff's office incident report noted that Horne could also face addition felony charges due to being in possession of a firearm as a convicted violent felon.
Dark Dodge Charger with no visible license plate
According to the report, an Ottawa County deputy was sitting stationary at Allen-Clay Fire Station No. 1 in Williston around 9:44 a.m. Monday when he observed a dark colored Dodge Charger with tinted windows and no visible plate on the back of the vehicle.
Immediately following the Dodge Charger was a newer model Kia sedan with Pennsylvania plates that was following within one car length of the Dodge Charger.
The deputy reported that he immediately recognized it from his training and experience in criminal interdiction as a bait car that is used to distract from another vehicle where the criminal activity is occurring.
He began following the vehicles eastbound on Ohio 579 and as they turned right onto Nissen Road, heading southbound towards Ohio 163.
The Kia rolled through a stop sign without stopping, and a Clay Township officer stopped Horne, the driver, without incident.
The Ottawa County deputy attempted to perform a traffic stop on the Dodge Charger but the vehicle accelerated to speeds in excess of 117 mph, according to the report.
As the deputy followed the vehicle southbound on Nissen road, the Dodge Charger nearly struck a farm tractor and as it approached the intersection of SR 51, the driver proceeded through the stop sign at approximately 70 mph.
The deputy advised dispatch to contact the Ohio Highway Patrol and advised them that he would be going to be headed toward the Ohio Turnpike in hopes that spike strips could be set up to stop the fleeing vehicle.
Vehicle ran multiple cars off the road
After the vehicle approached the intersection of Nissen Road and Ohio 51, they turned southbound and headed towards Elmore.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of Ohio 51 and Ohio 105, they ran multiple cars off the road and vehicles had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck.
At this time, speeds were in excess of 100 mph as they entered Elmore, according to the report.
The vehicle then continued southbound heading towards the Ohio Turnpike and as they were approaching the curve near Portage River South Road, they attempted to take the curve too fast, lost control of the vehicle and then struck the rear end of a semitrailer that was heading southbound on Ohio 51.
The vehicle then careened into the northbound lane of travel and continued to roll past Tina's Country Market with disabling damage to the vehicle.
The driver and passenger opened their doors and leaped out of the Charger while it was still moving, and the pair rolled across the blacktop surface.
Their Dodge Charger then continued rolling and struck a home, causing severe damage to what would appear to be a downstairs bedroom on the residence.
The juvenile passenger started running eastbound across a yard to the south of the Elmore Medical Center and the driver started running eastbound to the north of the Dollar General Store.
Deputy takes both driver, passenger into custody
The deputy intercepted the passenger, drew his service weapon and ordered the suspect to the ground, where he was then handcuffed and placed into custody.
He also took the driver into custody a short time later, with assistance from Elmore police officers.
Both Jackson and the passenger refused to answer questions and denied knowing Horne.
The Dodge Charger had no visible plates and had been reported stolen by the registered owner on May 20 to the Allen Park, Mich. Police Department.
The Sandusky post of the Ohio Highway Patrol assisted the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office with vehicle searches.
Two handguns were found in the Kia — a Glock 17 9mm, and a Springfield Hellcat 9mm that were both loaded and had a round in the chamber.
The Springfield Hellcat came back as a stolen weapon from Pennsylvania.
Genoa Police also assisted the sheriff's office in securing the scene.
Jackson broke his nose and the 17-year-old passenger also sustained injuries and both were transported to Magruder Hospital for treatment.
Horne's initial hearing at Ottawa County Common Pleas Court was Wednesday.
Jackson has a hearing scheduled Tuesday at the court.
dacarson@gannett.com
419-334-1046
Twitter: @DanielCarson7
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Michigan man, teen passenger arrested after fleeing police, crashing
