Wanted suspect flees from Springfield police, crashes into parked van

A driver wanted for possible parole violations fled a traffic stop in Springfield Thursday evening and crashed into a parked van following a brief high-speed chase.

Officers from the Springfield Police Division spotted the driver — identified as 26-year-old Steven Masters — and recognized him as a suspect having a statewide arrest warrant. They attempted to pull him over around 7 p.m. in the area of Sheridan Avenue.

Credit: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION & CORRECTION

Credit: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION & CORRECTION

The driver fled, with speeds reaching more than 90 mph at one point, a Springfield police lieutenant said.

Within minutes, the driver lost control, veered off the road and slammed into an unoccupied van at the parking lot for Pawn Stars, located at 2819 E. Main St.

Masters was taken into custody, as well as one of two passengers.

Neither Masters nor the passengers needed to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

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According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction, Masters was released from custody two weeks ago, on Feb. 28, following his February 2017 conviction in Clark County for violating a protection order and failure to comply with a police order.

Clark County Jail records show that Masters was booked on suspicion of fleeing and eluding; improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle; having weapons under disability; carrying concealed weapons; receiving stolen property; and traffic violations of failure to control vehicle, no operator’s license and driving under suspension.

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