Ashland County, OH — A high-speed chase that began in Medina County and stretched across multiple jurisdictions ended in Ashland County on Saturday with the arrest of a 70-year-old Tallmadge man. The suspect, Victor Head, was apprehended after leading law enforcement on a dangerous pursuit that reached speeds of up to 99 miles per hour.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the incident started when a Medina County trooper attempted to pull over Head’s 2022 Tesla Model Y on westbound I-76 for speeding. Instead of complying, Head accelerated and merged onto southbound I-71, continuing his evasion.
The chase quickly escalated as the Medina County Sheriff’s Office and Lodi Police Department joined the pursuit, which eventually entered Ashland County. There, troopers from the Ashland County Post and deputies from the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office took over the pursuit.
In a strategic move, spike strips were deployed near mile marker 184, puncturing both of the Tesla’s passenger-side tires. Despite the damage, Head continued driving for another two miles before finally stopping near mile marker 182. However, he refused to exit the vehicle, leading to a 15-minute standoff with law enforcement.
After a tense negotiation, Head complied and was taken into custody without further incident. He was checked by Ashland EMS on the scene before being transported to the Medina County Jail.
Head has been charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a fifth-degree felony. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, though the standoff caused significant traffic delays in both directions on I-71.
