Man tries to ram police, carjack drivers on I-75 during Friday morning pursuit

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A man is in custody after a police pursuit of a stolen car that ended with the suspect running, on foot, onto Interstate 75 in an attempt to hijack a new car, according to Huber Heights dispatch records.

Thomas Christian III, 37, is in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of theft, failure to comply with police orders, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and obstructing official business.

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According to dispatch records, just after 1 a.m. Friday morning a Huber Heights police officer identified a white 2017 Chrysler 300 as one that was reported stolen from the SVG Motors car dealership in Harrison Township on March 11.

The officer tried to pull the car over at North Dixie Drive and Benchwood Road, but it fled.

The car ended up taking police on a looping route through Butler and Harrison townships, crossing Interstate 75 before heading north on Poe Avenue and coming to a stop in a field to the south of the Little York Tavern.

During this pursuit, police said the Chrysler swerved to try to hit a police cruiser.

Police also reported that the suspect was armed with a handgun during the pursuit, which he used to shoot at other vehicles, although it was unclear what vehicles he was shooting at.

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After driving into the field, records said that Christian fled on foot onto I-75, running across the northbound lanes and jumping over the concrete divider.

Now in the southbound lanes, police records said that he tried to stop and car jack passing vehicles before police caught up to him and took him into custody.

Christian and the vehicle were handed over to deputies from the Harrison Township branch of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Crews from Huber Heights and Butler Twp. police aided in the chase and arrest.

Christian is due in court on Monday.

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