The officer got behind the Toyota Sienna on Ohio 741 and ran the license plate. He learned the car was reported stolen and possibly related to a home invasion in Kentucky, said Zimmaro.
As a result, the officer initiated a pursuit and the vehicle fled. The chase went up Interstate 675 before the car was involved in a crash at Ohio 725 and Paragon Road.
While the chase was continuing, Warren County dispatch notified the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office the pursuit was making its way into the county, Montgomery County Sheriff Chief of Staff Jeremy Roy said.
Washington Twp. crews were the closest and began heading to the area. Around 8:59 a.m., the crash was reported.
Multiple law enforcement crews at the scene notified the sheriff’s office people were fleeing from the vehicle, Roy said.
A female was taken into custody at the scene and was being treated for injuries. A man reportedly fled toward the Oak Creek South Park.
“Once you get down into that park, you’re getting into a creek area,” Roy said. “It’s very hot out. We didn’t want him to get too far, so we were able to get a perimeter set up pretty quick.”
Crews then learned the pair were possibly involved in a home invasion and firearms were found at the crash, he said.
“So at that point in time it ups the safety for the citizens,” Roy said. “We immediately tried to do a reverse 911 or call everybody in the area to let them know that we have an emergency situation.”
A shelter in place was issued around 9:20 a.m. for the area of Ohio 725 and Paragon Road as officers searched for the man. People were asked to stay indoors with the doors and windows locked.
“Vehicle pursuit terminated in the area of Oak Creek South park in Washington Twp.,” an alert sent out to cellphones read. “Large police presence in the area. Shelter in place the suspect could be armed.”
In addition to the sheriff’s office and Springboro police, Franklin, Miamisburg and Centerville police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, FBI, SWAT and U.S. Marshals responded to the area.
SWAT crews with police canines worked on opposite sides of the park to track the suspect.
Roy said all the police canines were leading to the same area near 8110 Paragon Road, which had a drainage area. Crews also noted tracks and broken branches that also led to that area.
They found the suspect in a storm drain in approximately three feet of water. The man complied with commands and was taken into custody without incident. He was not armed.
At 11 a.m., the sheriff’s office released an update saying the shelter in place advisory was lifted and people could resume normal activities.
“We thank the community for their cooperation and patience during this incident,” the sheriff’s office said.
Roy confirmed guns were found at the crash scene but couldn’t provide additional details.
“The reason they wanted to make sure that we were aware of that was because he had made statements to folks in Kentucky that he wanted to have suicide by cop, which concerns us greatly,” Roy said.
The pair were reportedly entered as missing due to the stolen car and their suspected involvement in a home invasion where guns were stolen.
“This was about as dangerous as you can get,” Roy said.
He praised the collaborative work between the multiple local police agencies, as well as state and federal law enforcement officers, to respond to the area and take the suspect into custody without incident.
Crews are collecting evidence at the different scenes and continuing to investigate.
About the Author