In the early hours of Tuesday morning, at 7:35 a.m., the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen 2013 Red Ford F150 truck from the River Road area of Port Washington. The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between 9:00 p.m. the previous evening and 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Later in the day, at 2:43 p.m., Sergeant Bryan Patrick, while patrolling the area in search of the stolen vehicle, spotted the red truck on Gilmore Road. In an attempt to initiate a traffic stop, the suspect behind the wheel accelerated and fled.
The pursuit led through various roads, including River Hill Road, Fallen Timber Road, Sandy Ridge Road, Laurel Creek Road, Edie Hill Road, and Tatman Road. Ohio State Highway Patrol joined the chase, deploying stop sticks at the intersection of Rush Church and Blizzard Ridge Road, successfully disabling all four tires of the stolen vehicle.
The driver abandoned the truck and attempted to escape on foot, but law enforcement apprehended him after the brief foot chase.
The apprehended suspect is a 24-year-old man from the New Philadelphia area. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene due to the individual’s claim of ingesting illegal narcotics. Medical personnel cleared him, and he was then transported to the Tuscarawas County Jail, where he will be held pending formal charges.
The suspect’s identity is being withheld until formal charges are filed. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.