Pursuit driver indicted for felonious assault for ramming Noble Co. sheriff's cruiser
CALDWELL — A Cleveland man who allegedly rammed a Noble County sheriff's cruiser during a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 77 finds himself facing more serious charges after a grand jury indicted him on multiple felony offenses.
Ronald Loftis, 43, now faces single counts of felonious assault, a first-degree felony; failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; and receiving stolen property and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, fourth-degree felonies.
The felonious assault charge replaces a charge of assault of a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony, previously filed in the Noble County Court. The improper handling of a firearm charge is new.
The case filed with the county court was recently bound over to the Noble County Common Pleas Court after Judge Jennifer Arnold found probable cause during a preliminary hearing to indicate the offenses were committed by Loftis.
More: Case against pursuit driver bound over to Noble County Common Pleas Court
Bond for Loftis was continued at $500,000, cash or surety, with no 10% allowed.
Loftis is alleged to have rammed the Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving into the back of a cruiser driven by Sgt. Tim Simon and tried to strike a second cruiser driven by Sheriff Jason Mackie during the pursuit on Dec. 31.
He was taken into custody after the Tahoe overturned while trying to strike the cruisers after traveling into Guernsey County.
According to reports, Mackie was at a gas station in Caldwell just before 2 a.m. that Friday when he observed alleged suspicious activity by Loftis.
Mackie followed the Tahoe onto I-77 northbound and learned through a registration check that the Chevrolet had been reported stolen from a South Carolina location.
Speeds during the pursuit reportedly reached 110 mph prior to Loftis striking a spike strip deployed by a Guernsey County sheriff's deputy near the Buffalo exit.
After a tire on the Tahoe deflated, Loftis continued northbound at speeds in excess of 80 mph while driving on three tires and a rim.
Mackie and Simon surrounded the vehicle in an attempt to execute a rolling roadblock, at which time Loftis allegedly struck Simon's cruiser twice causing the Tahoe to overturn.
More: South Carolina man arrested on I-77 after rollover crash during police chase
Loftis is alleged to have fled from the heavily-damaged Chevrolet on foot leading to a brief foot pursuit. He was taken into custody by the sheriff and deputies from both agencies.
A search of the Chevrolet resulted in deputies finding a loaded .45 caliber pistol and a 26-round extended magazine.
Loftis was transported by United Ambulance to Southeastern Med where he was treated for injuries suffered in the accident. He was transported to the Noble County Jail after being released from the Cambridge hospital.
Mackie said Loftis is also wanted on a warrant issued in Cleveland. He remained incarcerated in the Noble County Jail.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Driver indicted for felonious assault for ramming sheriff's cruiser
