Four men have been indicted for leading police on separate high-speed pursuits and one had to be hospitalized for injuries sustained during a crash.
A Wood County grand jury on Wednesday indicted Kevonte Derrick Harvey Irons, 23, Coconut Creek, Florida, for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.
On Feb. 5 on Interstate 75 near Buck Road, Irons’ vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. As the officer approached his Nissan, he allegedly took off at speeds in excess of 100 mph. He exited at Wales Road, turned west, then reentered I-75 heading southbound.
The pursuit reached speeds in excess of 120 mph before Irons exited the interstate at the turnpike, failed to stop at the tollbooth and ran through the gate.
He entered the turnpike heading eastbound and continued through three counties, passing in the right shoulder and swerving between vehicles before exiting at Exit 91 in Fremont. Irons reportedly drove through the tollbooth gate before continuing northbound on Oho 53. Speeds were around 70 mph until the vehicle started to decelerate due to damage. The right rear tire fell off, the vehicle proceeded to travel left of center, causing oncoming traffic to drive off the road to avoid a crash. Irons then reportedly drove off the right side of the road into a yard and crashed into a tree.
Irons and a passenger had to exit through the passenger side due to damage to the vehicle. The passenger told police he was sleeping and when he woke up, he realized police were behind him.
Also indicted Wednesday was Demetrius Lashun Mcelrath, 35, Detroit, for felonious assault, a first-degree felony; failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; two counts receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony and a fifth-degree felony; and vandalism, a fourth-degree felony.
On I-75 on Jan. 31, an officer checked a Michigan plate through dispatch, and it was reported stolen. A traffic stop was initiated and when the officer began to walk up to the vehicle, it took off northbound.
It continued at a high rate of speed, passing Wales Road and South Street in Rossford. The vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, exited at Collingwood Boulevard and turned right onto Erie Street. It then drove onto a one-way street, striking another cruise twice, once head on.
An officer struck the Jeep on the rear driver side in an attempt to stop it. The driver exited the vehicle and took off running on South St. Clair. Once on Newton Street, he again was told to stop before being tased.
While searching his person, officers reportedly found $814 in loose currency and two iPhones. It was determined the Jeep also was stolen.
Richard Manuel Correa Viera, 20, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and currently in jail, was indicted for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. On Feb. 8 on Interstate 80 in Perrysburg Township, his Chrysler Pacifica was reportedly checked at 86 mph in a 70-mph zone eastbound on the turnpike. As the vehicle crossed into Wood County, speeds reached 112 mph.
The driver turned his lights off at times, passed on the shoulder and traveled off the right side of the road and struck a guardrail. When he traveled back into the roadway, he struck a semi-trailer. He was transported to Wood County Hospital with suspected minor injuries.
Nicholas James Edward Starkey, 33, with a last known address of Fostoria and currently in the Seneca County Jail, for failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; and petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. On July 24, he allegedly stole merchandise from two businesses then fled police after receiving a visible or audible signal to stop.
The grand jury also handed down indictments for:
Antonio Escobar, 45, Bowling Green, for assault, a fourth-degree felony, and menacing and public indecency, both fourth-degree misdemeanor. On Jan. 1, Bowling Green police responded to the 1000 block of Third Street where a man was attempting to overdose. When told he was being transported to the hospital, he allegedly became verbal and refused to be searched. He attempted to break free from officers’ grip, swung a hand and struck an officer in the face. He allegedly caused a woman to believe he was going to physically harm her and exposed himself where he was likely to be viewed by others who were not household members.
Brian D. Dorman, 45, Bowling Green, for grand theft and theft from a person in a protected class, both fourth-degree felonies. From Dec. 2, 2019, to Feb. 23, 2022, he allegedly deprived two people of more than $7,500 by deception and on Nov. 15, 2019, allegedly stole more than $1,000 from an elderly woman.
Darrichia J. Watson, 32, Toledo, for theft, a fifth-degree felony. On Jan. 3, police responded to a beauty store in the 9800 block of Olde U.S. 20 for a theft in progress. Watson allegedly concealed items in her clothing then left the store without paying. The value of items retrieved by police was $1,139. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Co-defendants Joshua Eugene Joseph Hopkins, 36, Toledo, and Anthony Emido Papa, 28, who are currently begin held in an Ohio prison, for theft, a fifth-degree felony, and criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. On Sept. 17, 2021, they allegedly stole a catalytic converter valued at more than $1,000 from a business in Luckey after entering the property without permission.
Jaylon Chamez Harris-Bracey, 26, Lima, for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony; operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them/OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor; trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony; and falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor.
On Sept. 5, Harris-Bracey was stopped on Interstate 75 for speed. He was reportedly found to be under the influence of alcohol and in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol with no serial numbers or make or model. He also was allegedly preparing for distribution less than 200 grams of marijuana and gave false information to police.
Co-defendants Caleb Rowell, 18, Delrico Byrd, 19, Amarion Murray, 19, and Keshaun Carrington, 19, all from Toledo, for two counts improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, one a fourth-degree felony and one a fourth-degree misdemeanor; and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. On Jan. 1, they had a loaded firearm that was obtained through theft and that was accessibleto the operator or passenger without leaving the vehicle. They couldn’t lawfully possess that firearm under applicable law.
Brianna C. Larson, 39, Toledo, for theft, a fifth-degree felony. From March 26-Dec. 20, she allegedly deprived Marcos Pizza of between $1,000 and $7,500 without consent.
Daniel N. Young, 46, Bowling Green, for two counts identity fraud, both fifth-degree felonies. On Nov. 8 and Dec. 5, he allegedly possessed personal identifying information of two different men.
Luis J. Rodriguez-Howe, 20, Erlanger, Kentucky, for possession of marijuana, a third-degree felony. On July 14, he allegedly was found with more than 1,000 grams of marijuana in his possession.
Junny Jarry Sitthideth, 29, McComb, for four counts improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, all fifth-degree felonies; and two counts operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse of a combination of them/OVI, both first-degree misdemeanors. When he was stopped on Jan. 21 on I-75 for numerous traffic violations, officers reportedly found two loaded 9mm handguns, one in the glove box and one between the driver’s seat and the center console. A 9mm and a semi-automatic pistol were found in the trunk. The OVI charges stem from him operating a vehicle while under the influence and having a 0.099 BAC.
Janen Ryan Cullen, 36, Pataskala, for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. On April 21, he allegedly knowingly transported a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle in such a manner that the gun was accessible to the operator or passenger without leaving the vehicle.
Janelle Monea Harris, 32, Detroit, for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. On Aug. 6, Harris was stopped on I-75 for an equipment violation and the odor of raw marijuana was detected. A probable cause search was initiated, and oxycodone was reportedly found in excess of the bulk amount.
Co-defendants Whitney Hayes Passino, 47, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Chad Swilley, 42, Brooklyn, Michigan, for grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. The vehicle had been towed to a business in the 27000 block of Crossroads Parkway in Rossford on Jan. 9 and dropped off between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. The vehicle, a 2015 Ford F-250, was not in the parking lot on Jan. 10. The owner received a phone call from an unidentified male saying he knew where the vehicle was. The owner tracked down the truck to a Stickney Avenue location in Toledo, which was a towing company. The Ford was hooked to a Dodge Ram. The Ford’s owner reclaimed the vehicle while dispatched obtained a screen shot of the man who took the vehicle. He was reportedly identified as Swilley. An employer at the tow business told police Passino owned the yellow truck.
Darius Stefon Stover, 32, currently in a Michigan prison, for having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony; and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor. On Feb. 16, he allegedly was found in possession of a firearm after being convicted arson in 2021. He also allegedly caused four men to believe he would cause serious physical harm to them.
