BUTLER COUNTY, OH – A high-speed chase involving a stolen semi truck ended with the arrest of a suspect in Butler County on January 11, 2025. The pursuit began at 12:47 a.m. when the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) initiated a chase on a stolen semi truck originating from Indiana.
As the suspect traveled into the city of Middletown, Middletown police joined the pursuit, and Trenton Police Department later became involved. During the chase, the driver of the stolen semi truck attempted to hinder the officers by throwing hammers and other tools out of the window in an effort to strike the pursuing units.
The pursuit continued through Preble County before re-entering Butler County, where Butler County patrol units took over the chase on State Route 127 southbound. Officers deployed tire deflation devices (stop sticks), which successfully slowed the truck down. The vehicle eventually ran off the road near the Third Street Extension just north of Black Street in Hamilton, where the chase came to an end after approximately 90 minutes.
The driver, identified as 37-year-old Joseph Allen Horton, was arrested without further incident. Horton, who is reported to have no current address, faces charges of Failure to Comply (a third-degree felony) and Receiving Stolen Property (a fourth-degree felony). Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues across multiple jurisdictions.
Sheriff Richard K. Jones praised the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit. “It’s a crazy world we’re living in. Our law enforcement, no matter what agency, never waivers in making our communities safe,” Sheriff Jones said.
The investigation is ongoing, with more details expected as authorities continue to process the case.
