Chillicothe, OH, January 14, 2025 – A dramatic high-speed pursuit in Ross County ended with the arrest of Tommy Cantrell Jr., 44, of Chillicothe, after he stole an Ohio State Patrol (OSP) marked cruiser and led officers on a chase toward the city limits.
The incident unfolded at approximately 2:13 a.m. on January 14, when the patrol car was left running outside the Chillicothe Patrol Post. The vehicle, equipped with GPS technology, was quickly located by troopers traveling southbound on State Route 772 near milepost 10 in Ross County just 16 minutes later at 2:29 a.m. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but Cantrell failed to pull over, triggering a pursuit.
The stolen cruiser continued southbound on SR-772 before turning around at a gas station and heading back toward Chillicothe. As the chase entered the city, Chillicothe Police Officer Samantha Taczak deployed stop sticks on Paint Street near Cooks Hill Road. The stop sticks successfully deflated the vehicle’s tires, causing the cruiser to come to a halt.
Cantrell was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with theft without consent, failure to comply with an officer’s order, and possession of drug abuse instruments. The suspect was incarcerated at the Ross County Jail.
The stolen patrol car sustained damage to its tires but no injuries were reported, and the vehicle itself remained largely undamaged.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident.
