Troy A. Meyer, 20, of 450 Kristina Drive, Bellefontaine, was charged with reckless operation and failure to comply with the order or signal of a peace officer during an incident Sunday afternoon along U.S. Route 33.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office on patrol in the area of westbound U.S. 33 near State Route 292 about 3 p.m. observed his speeding vehicle and recorded his speed at 130 mph.
Deputies immediately activated their emergency lights and said initially, the eastbound 2010 Ford Mustang slowed down, but then it sped up along U.S. 33. Dispatchers also notified the Union County Sheriff’s Office and troopers of the Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol about the speeding vehicle.
While fleeing from law enforcement, deputies said Meyer took the State Route 347 exit ramp and failed to negotiate the curve, striking a small sign and then an embankment, coming to a rest.
When deputies arrived at the crash scene, they said Meyer was outside of the vehicle walking around. He was ordered onto the ground and was immediately placed in handcuffs.
Perry Township Fire and EMS also arrived at the scene. Meyer and his three occupants did not report any injuries. However, two of the passengers, Ellen Distelhorst, 15, and James Distelhorst, 17, both of Marysville, were transported by Perry Township EMS to Memorial Hospital in Marysville, since they were under age 18 and there wasn’t a legal guardian present to sign for them, deputies said.
Meyer spoke with deputies, apologizing for his actions and stating that he was speeding because he wanted to “show his cousin how fast the car could go.” He also was cited for speed and failure to control.
Damage was light to the car, which was towed from the scene.
Possession of meth charges filed
Devonald B. Manney, 28, of Chicago, was charged with possession of methamphetamine related to a traffic stop about 3:35 p.m. Saturday, March 18.
Deputies on patrol in the area of U.S. 33 and State Route 540 observed a speed violation with his vehicle of 90 mph in a 70 mph zone, and attempted to initiate a stop. Deputies said the westbound vehicle finally came to a stop on U.S. 33 just west of the U.S. 68 overpass.
While speaking to Manney, deputies observed that he appeared to be extremely nervous and asked him to step out of the vehicle. However, the defendant refused and then locked his driver’s side door. He then called 911 regarding the situation and a dispatcher took his information and convinced him to exit the vehicle.
Additional units arrived on the scene and K9 Thor was deployed on the vehicle for a free air sniff. The canine alerted on the vehicle.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, deputies located a book bag containing plastic container with a crystal-like substance. In a jacket located on the front passenger seat, deputies also seized a glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residence and a container with several grams of suspected meth. The items later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Manney was placed under arrest and was transported to the Logan County Jail. A report will be forwarded to the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office regarding the review of additional charges for speed of 90 in a 70 mph zone and obstructing official business.
Woman charged with illegal conveyance into a detention facility
Beth A. Church, 48, of Columbus, was charged with trespassing and illegal conveyance of drugs into a detention facility after an incident Saturday at 1624 Township Road 185, Bellefontaine.
Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint at the residence about 4:40 p.m. The home owner said a woman was standing at her front door and walking around her property, and noted that the same woman had been there the previous week.
When deputies arrived at the address, they said Church was standing at the front door, claiming she was locked out of her house. She was placed under arrest for trespassing and was transported to the jail.
While being processed at the jail, deputies said the tip of a used needle and a plastic baggie with a crystal-like substance were found in the defendant’s purse. The substance in the baggie field-tested positive for methamphetamine.