Samantha E. Fisher, 44, of Columbus, was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer as a result of a slow speed chase totaling about 41 minutes that occurred Wednesday evening, beginning in Logan County and ending in Champaign County.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of a suspicious vehicle about 10:50 p.m. from callers in the area of State Route 287 and Township Road 166.
Residents at 2942 S.R. 287, West Liberty, said the vehicle started following them into their driveway. The residents pointed the suspicious vehicle out to deputies upon their arrival, and deputies activated the cruiser’s emergency lights and in-car camera.
Deputies said the vehicle went past them and failed to yield to the emergency lights, continuing eastbound onto S.R. 287 to County Road 15 and into Champaign County.
Deputies said the suspect drove onto Johnson Road and failed to stop for a stop sign.
She later turned onto Cox Road, State Route 245 and drove in both lanes of travel. Deputies were concerned that she was either impaired or suffering from a medical issue.
Troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol successfully deployed stop sticks on her vehicle, which flattened both tires in the area of State Route 296. However, Fisher reportedly continued driving and eventually reached the area of Urbana-Woodstock Road and Ludlow Road. The driver finally came to a stop in the area of Kennard-Kingscreek Road.
Fisher reportedly refused to open her vehicle’s window and locked the vehicle’s doors. Deputies had to knock out a passenger side window with a baton. She was asked whether she was feeling alright and she told deputies she didn’t have to answer any questions.
A search was conducted of her vehicle, and no illegal items were recovered. Fisher was placed under arrest and transported to the Logan County Jail, where she reportedly refused to submit to a urine sample.
Additional charges are pending, and include: trespassing, reckless operation, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, left of center and five stop sign violations.