A high-speed chase through Chillicothe ended with an arrest on Saturday after a driver allegedly disregarded multiple traffic signals and endangered pedestrians.
Around 4 am on Saturday Officers observed a green Ford truck speeding out of a Pilot Gas Station on East Main Street and failing to stop at several red lights. The vehicle continued westbound on East Main Street, reaching speeds exceeding 80 mph.
The pursuit continued as the truck turned northbound into an alleyway, narrowly avoiding patrons outside a nearby establishment. The driver then turned westbound on East Second Street, again disregarding stop signs and a red light. The reckless driving culminated in the vehicle striking a crosswalk sign on East Second Street near Mulberry Street.
Reinforcements from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol joined the pursuit, which ultimately ended on North Paint Street near East Second Street.
Officers apprehended the driver at gunpoint after he initially failed to comply with commands. A strong odor of alcohol was reportedly detected on the driver’s person.
The suspect, Kevin Eugene Howard., was found to have an outstanding warrant in Pike County. He refused to submit to field sobriety testing and was subsequently transported to the Ross County Jail.
The suspect is facing charges of failure to comply with police orders, OVI, and Failure to Appear and will appear in court on March 18, 2024. Additional charges related to the chase and the damaged crosswalk sign are expected.
