Chillicothe – A man has been charged with several felonies after attempting to flee and ramming the Chillicothe Police department on Sunday
According to Chillicothe police they attempted to stop a Kia Soul on East Main Street for expired tags when the vehicle took off.
The vehicle proceeded to travel westbound on E. Main St. at speeds up to approximately 60 to 70 MPH. While traveling westbound on E. Main St. The vehicle then turned left from W. Main St. onto S. Walnut St. traveling southbound reaching speeds of approximately 40MPH. The vehicle then turned right onto W. 4th St. traveling westbound at speeds of approximately 50MPH. The vehicle turned right onto W. Main St. traveling eastbound and reaching speeds of approximately 70 MPH. The vehicle then turned right into the parking lot between Jimmy John’s and the Vilarreal Law Firm, approximately 70 yards west of S. Paint St. The vehicle traveled southbound through the parking lot and then turn right onto the alley between W. Main St. and W. 4th St. traveling westbound at speeds of approximately 50 MPH. The vehicle then turned left onto S. Walnut St. traveling southbound reaching speeds of approximately 70MPH. While traveling southbound on S. Walnut St., the operator of the vehicle failed to stop at the stop signs at the intersections of S. Walnut St. and W. 4th St., S. Walnut St. and W. 5th St., S. Walnut St. and W. 6th St., and S. Walnut St. and W. 7th St.
After the vehicle ran through the intersection of S. Walnut St. and W. 7th St., it continued to travel southbound on S. Walnut St. until running into the 800 block parking lot of Lincoln Park, which had no outlet. The vehicle came to an abrupt stop, started driving in reverse, and rammed the front end of the Chillicothe patrol cruiser. After the initial impact, the vehicle accelerated in reverse again, striking the front end of the marked patrol cruiser for a second time.
Police officer at the scene drew his gun and ordered the man out of the vehicle but the operator ignored the orders and drove forward into an open space between parked vehicles, at the 800 block apartment building, obscuring the suspect vehicle from view. The officer moved around parked vehicles to regain a visual on the suspect vehicle, and once again ordered the operator to show his hands. As the officer was ordering the operator to show me his hands, the vehicle drove in reverse for approximately 5 yards until it turned right and came to a stop. The vehicle then accelerated traveling northbound out of the parking lot, being within 5 feet of striking Officer’s on scene, and drove over the yellow curb on the west edge of S. Walnut St. into the grass. The vehicle drove down the hill in the grass for approximately 20 yards before driving back over the yellow curb and onto S. Walnut St. The vehicle then accelerated and was last seen by Officers on scene traveling northbound on S. Walnut St. at a high rate of speed.
Police were able to identify the suspect as Cole Fite,
Cole Fite is being charged with Felonious Assault, and Failure To Comply With The Orders or Signals of A Police Officer. Fite is also being cited for Driving Under Suspension for non-compliance, and Expired Plates. During the pursuit, Fite failed to yield to the red light at E. Main St. and N. Bridge St., failed to stop at the stop signs at the intersections of S. Walnut St. and W. 4th St., S. Walnut St. and W. 5th St., S. Walnut St. and W. 6th St., and S. Walnut St. and W. 7th St. Fite also failed to stop and sound at the alleyway intersections of the alley between W. Main St. and W. 4th St. before turning left onto S. Walnut St. Throughout the duration of the pursuit which was approximately 1.7 miles, Fite was traveling at speeds up to 70MPH and operating a motor vehicle recklessly with no regard to the safety of other motorists, the general public, Officer’s in pursuit, himself, nor the passenger of his vehicle.
Chillicothe Police are requesting that a warrant be issued for Cole Fite’s arrest in reference to his charges.
Update: Fite was arrested and charged with fleeing, and other charges
