SIDNEY — A short chase with law enforcement early Tuesday morning led to the arrest of two Dayton men, who were also being sought for questioning by the Dayton Police Department.
The suspects — Fred Demon Miller, 20, of Dayton, and Khali Ronell Daniel, 19, of Dayton — attempted to flee the scene after they crashed the vehicle they were driving. Daniel was arrested moments later while Miller remained free until he was apprehended at 8 a.m. Tuesday. It is believed that Miller was the driver of the vehicle.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Miller and Daniel were in a 2013 Volkswagen Passat when Deputy Frank Bleigh observed the taillights of the vehicle were not working. The incident occurred just after midnight on Michigan Street at Interstate 75.
When Bleigh attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver of the vehicle pulled into the lot of Kroger on Michigan Street and drove through the lot. The driver took off at a high rate of speed northbound on Vandemark Road.
The driver lost control negotiating a right-hand curve in the roadway and crashed into the yard of Pohlkat Trucking, 985 N. Vandemark Road, striking a light pole, business sign and trailer. Both occupants of the car fled the scene.
Miller was apprehended by Shelby County deputies on Gleason Drive behind Walmart in Sidney at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“We received a call reference a subject walking in the vicinity of Gleason Drive. A deputy observed the male walking, who matched a description of one of the subjects,” said Chief Deputy Jim Frye about Miller’s arrest. “The deputy approached the male subject and he was taken into custody without incident.”
Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail on a felony charge of receiving stolen property. He will be arraigned in Sidney Municipal Court on Wednesday morning, Sept. 23.
Daniel, 19, of Dayton, was arrested a few minutes after the accident. He was checked for his injuries by Sidney Fire & Emergency Services for any possible injuries and was transported to the Shelby County Jail. He faces a felony charge of receiving stolen property. He was arraigned Tuesday morning in Sidney Municipal Court. According to court records, assigned Judge Donald Luce set bond at $5,091 for Daniel. Daniel waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case was bound over to Shelby County Common Pleas Court.
Deputies, Sidney Police and troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol searched the area. Canines were used from the Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police and Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office. A plane from the Ohio State Highway Patrol was also used to assist in the search.
The vehicle the suspects were driving was reported stolen from Dayton Monday night.
“We know that Dayton detectives are on their way up to interview the two men,” said Frye. “We do know that the vehicle was stolen. The two men will stay with us until they are arraigned in Sidney Municipal Court.”
Frye said a weapon was found in the vehicle. The circumstances surround the carjacking in Dayton are not known at this time.
The incident remains under investigation.
