Damarcus Krishon Bunch Guy, 29, of Dayton, was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police office and obstructing official business related to an incident Sunday afternoon, where he allegedly led law enforcement officers on a high speed chase along U.S. Route 68 and into West Liberty.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office originally conducted a traffic stop about 4:30 p.m. in the area of LeVan’s Body Shop, 4784 U.S. Route 68, with a vehicle that had an unexpired registration and the registered owner did not have a valid license.
During the initial stop, Guy a back seat passenger in the vehicle. Deputies said the first driver of the vehicle, Charles W. Whitmer, 49, of Dayton was asked to speak with deputies outside of the vehicle and then was detained in the back seat of the patrol car.
During deputies’ interaction with Whitmer, Guy allegedly climbed from the back seat to the driver’s seat and began driving southbound onto U.S. 68.
Deputies said Guy reached speeds of 108 mph on U.S. 68 while law enforcement were attempting to stop him. He then continued into the village of West Liberty at speeds of 60 to 70 mph, deputies said.
An officer of the West Liberty Police Department was able to deploy stop sticks in the area of Thoman’s IGA, 201 S. Detroit St., and the suspect’s vehicle struck the stop sticks, which deflated the right front and rear tires.
The suspect’s fleeing vehicle then traveled off the right side of the road, down the embankment, and came to rest near a field along southbound U.S. Route 68, just south of the West Liberty corporation limit.
Deputies and West Liberty officers approached the vehicle with their service weapons drawn. Guy was taken into custody without further incident, and he stated he attempted to flee from the traffic stop because he had outstanding warrants.
A passenger in the vehicle, John J. Green, 60, of Dayton, complained of back pain and was transported by Macochee EMS to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment.
West Liberty Fire crews assisted for a time with traffic control in the area. No other injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
Guy was lodged in the Logan County Jail and charges have been forwarded to the Bellefontaine Municipal Court for consideration of additional charges, including speed, reckless operation and no operator’s license.
Whitmer was released from the scene with a verbal warning for the expired registration.