CIRCLEVILLE, OH — A man is on the run following a dramatic police chase in Circleville that began around 4 PM on Monday. The incident started when a man reported to 911 that he was pursuing a suspect in his stolen Jeep from the Ashville area.
According to police, the man tracked the vehicle through downtown Circleville before it turned northbound on North Court Street, where local officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Rather than pull over, the suspect accelerated, leading officers on a chase.
The pursuit continued north until the suspect reached the Craft Mall, where he tried to evade capture by circling the parking lot. During this maneuver, he clipped an employee and struck a building. After leaving the mall, the suspect drove the Jeep into a standing cornfield and jumped from the vehicle.
Witnesses reported that the Jeep began to catch fire, prompting officers to call in the fire department for assistance. However, the suspect managed to hide in the cornfield, and police lost visual contact with him.
Law enforcement has established a perimeter around the area and is currently requesting aerial support to locate the suspect. The situation is ongoing, and residents are advised to remain alert.
