The break-in of a local business is currently being investigated. The suspect led deputies on a chase for several miles before being captured. According to Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth his office received a call from an employee of J.D. Equipment, located at 1662 U.S. route 62 SW, Washington Court House reporting that an unknown subject had broken the glass of the entrance door at the front of the business to make entry.
Apparently unaware that the employee was inside the business, the suspect fled to his vehicle after being confronted by the store employee and left the area. The employee was able to obtain a vehicle description, direction the vehicle departed, and that the license plate on the suspect vehicle was being obscured by an unknown material. "Within minutes of the call, deputies were in the area and observed the vehicle entering the westbound entrance ramp to U.S. 35 bypass", said Stanforth. Deputies positively identified the suspect v3ehicle by the obscured rear license plate and initiated a traffic stop at U.S. 35 near Palmer Road.
The suspect failed to bring the vehicle to a stop, leading deputies on a chase across several miles before finally pulling off the roadway on S.R. 41 North into a private drive. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. No injuries to either the suspect or deputies were reported. The male suspect, age 26, reported having no permanent address, however is believed to be from the Springfield, Ohio area. Self was transported to the Fayette County Jail and incarcerated, charged with burglary, vandalism, fleeing & eluding law enforcement and other traffic related charges and is scheduled to appear for arraignment before the Washington Municipal Court on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. The incident remains under investigation, according to Stanforth.
