A police pursuit that began with a traffic stop attempt in Minerva ended with a suspect apprehended after fleeing on foot into a marshy wooded area, according to Minerva police.
Patrolman Jordan May attempted to stop a red Jeep displaying fictitious license plates on High Street when the vehicle fled, traveling past the police department and continuing through several village and township roads, Minerva Police Sgt. Mike Clunen said.
The pursuit traveled along Murray Road and Arrow Road before continuing onto Lorric Road, which becomes Leopard Road NW. Police said the driver left the roadway, drove through a yard, crossed multiple fields and entered a wooded area, where the Jeep became stuck on a log approximately a mile into the woods.
After abandoning the vehicle, the suspect fled on foot and was tracked to the 2000 block of Lilly Road NW, where he was apprehended in a marshy area that was iced over and heavily vegetated, Clunen said.
Police identified the suspect as John Hafner, 47, of Minerva. Hafner was taken into custody without further incident and was found to have an active felony warrant. Additional charges are pending and include drug paraphernalia, felony drug possession and felony citations, police said.
Hafner was transported to the Stark County Jail.
The Jeep was later removed from the woods by Prendergast Towing.
Clunen said the incident involved officers from the Minerva Police Department and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation remains ongoing.
