Troopers, Canton police nab wanted man after two-county car chase

Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio State Highway Patrol

A man suspected in multiple catalytic converter thefts led authorities from two counties on a chase in a stolen car that continued even after the vehicle lost a tire, investigators said.

Troopers with the Ohio Highway Patrol's Canton post said the suspect, a 33-year-old Jackson Township man, slowed down only to let a woman riding in the car bail out.

The chase started about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday in Akron, lasting about 45 minutes as it stretched through Summit and Stark counties before ending in Canton.

Akron Police spotted the black 2003 Honda Element and tried to pull it over, according to Sgt. Bryan Sponaugle of the Canton post. The vehicle had been stolen in Akron and was believed to have been used in previous catalytic converter thefts.

But the driver wouldn't stop, Sponaugle said.

Pursuit begins in Akron, stretches into Green, Stark County

"Troopers from the Akron post assisted and ultimately took over the pursuit when (the car) left the city of Akron," Sponaugle said.

The chase went south to Mayfair Road in Green before crossing into Stark County, heading onto Pittburg Avenue NW, he said. The driver turned onto Shuffel Street NW and, within sight of the patrol's headquarters, pulled onto I-77 south.

The car continued south, hitting a steady 90 mph with "moderate traffic," to state Route 30 and headed east to the Cherry Avenue SE exit, Sponaugle said.

From there, the trooper said, the driver went down several Canton city streets.

At one point, the vehicle slowed down so the passenger could get out, Sponaugle said, adding that Canton police quickly apprehended her. He noted that she was not charged with any crime.

Then one of tires on the stolen car went flat.

Riding the rim

"He ran it to the rim and kept going," Sponaugle said.

"It wasn't long after that he lost control of the car," the trooper said. "He spun out at one point, regained control and eventually went down a dead-end street."

The suspect got out of the car and ran.

Sponaugle said the suspect tried to enter an apartment building when Trooper Matthew Boyer used a stun gun and took him into custody.

He was taken to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital and then on to jail. Information about his pending charges was not immediately available.

Troopers found no catalytic converters in the car. But they did find a reciprocating saw, blades and other "criminal tools," items typically used to remove catalytic converters from vehicles, Sponaugle said.

The man had been released from the Stark County Jail on May 6 after his arrest on charges of receiving stolen property and driving under suspension, Stark County court records show.

The court records also show that Louisville Police had warrants for his arrest since May 10. The warrants accuse him of felony vandalism, accusing him of stealing a catalytic converter from a vehicle and criminal damaging for partially cutting a catalytic converter from another vehicle.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson Twp. man nabbed in stolen-car chase through Stark, Summit