ANNA — Drugs and a high amount of cash was seized after multiple law enforcement agencies engaged in a high speed pursuit with two vehicles on Interstate 75 Saturday night that ended with a chase on foot in Troy.
Anna, Botkins and Troy Police Departments, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Ohio State Highway Patrol’s helicopter assisted with the pursuit, which resulted in the arrest of one male.
According to Anna Police Chief Darrin Goudy’s press release, on Saturday, April 17, at 9:42 p.m., while on duty in Anna Police Officer Nathan Mahaffy spotted two suspicious vehicles at the Marathon Truck Stop, possibly engaged in narcotics activity. Upon checking the registration of a purple Dodge Charger, he found it came back to a BMW. At this time, the Charger and the second vehicle, a red Dodge Hellcat, left the lot driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed.
Mahaffy activated his overhead lights and siren and the Charger proceeded northbound onto Interstate 75 as the Hellcat proceeded southbound. Mahaffy pursued the Charger as it reached a speed of 120 mph. The Charger exited I-75 on exit 104 in Botkins and continued fleeing Mahaffy as Botkins Police and OSP joined the pursuit. The Charger attempted to drive down the railroad tracks and became stuck between the rails. The occupant(s) fled on foot, leaving behind a large amount of cash scattered along the tracks.
As Mahaffy and Botkins Police began to secure the scene, Mahaffy observed the Red Hellcat pass by his location. The Hellcat accelerated rapidly, squealing his tires and left the scene at a high rate of speed. Mahaffy, along with Botkins Police and OSP, returned to their cars and pursued the Hellcat in an attempt to get it stopped. The Hellcat fled onto state Route 29, reaching a speed of 110 mph, and continued southbound on I-75, refusing to stop. At this point, units from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist.
The pursuit continued into Miami County and at this point Mahaffy and the Shelby County units discontinued the pursuit while OSP continued on. OSP deployed stop sticks around mile marker 76 and got the Hellcat stopped. The occupants fled on foot.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Charger was spotted at the Circle K in Botkins and was apprehended. He was turned over to Mahaffy and transported to the Shelby County Jail and booked in on a charge of fleeing and alluding.
The Hellcat was towed back to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and detectives from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office along with units from the Anna and Botkins Police Departments processed the scene of the crashed Charger. It was removed from the tracks and towed to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
On Sunday, April 18, search warrants were obtained and both vehicles were searched by the Shelby County detective’s unit and officers from Anna and Botkins Police Departments. Cash in excess of $100,000 and a significant amount of drugs were recovered.
According to Shelby County Sheriff Jim Frye, the male driver who was located in Botkins was arrested, transported to the Shelby County Jail, and he immediately posted bond.
A combined investigation is being conducted by the Anna and Botkins Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Additional suspects have been identified and several charges are pending.
