DARKE COUNTY — A driver led law enforcement on an approximate 25-minute chase, starting in Darke County and ending about 30 miles away in Wayne County, Saturday overnight.
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Darke County deputies initiated a traffic stop at around 12:45 a.m. on U.S. Route 127 southbound near state Route 49, citing a nonfunctioning headlight and “lanes of travel violation,” a spokesperson for the county stated. However, the driver failed to stop and began to speed away in their blue Chevrolet Cruze. Within about five minutes, the driver reached speeds of over 100 mph.
As Darke County deputies pursued the driver within Ohio’s borders, law enforcement requested aid from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office and the Dayton post of Ohio State Highway Patrol, state trooper dispatch told News Center 7.
Darke County deputies ended their pursuit near the Darke-Preble County Line, the spokesperson said. Preble County deputies then took over the pursuit.
An Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter assisted in maintaining vision and providing direction during the pursuit, state trooper dispatch continued. However, no car-state trooper helped because the suspect driver was reportedly speeding too fast for units to “catch up.”
The suspect driver reached top speeds of over 110 mph, according to emergency scanners.
Near the end of the pursuit, the driver closed in on the Ohio-Indiana border, prompting law enforcement to contact the Richmond Police Department.
After the approximate 30-mile pursuit, Richmond Police stopped and detained the driver and a passenger on Chester Boulevard in Richmond, Indiana, at around 1:10 a.m., according to the spokesperson and emergency scanners.
Richmond officers reported “an odor of marijuana” present in the vehicle along with “marijuana residue,” the spokesperson informed. Additionally, the driver was not valid and the vehicle was affixed with a fake license plate.
Darke County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation into the pursuit.
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