CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — On December 17, the Chillicothe Police Department was called to Walmart on reports of theft. According to a loss prevention associate, a white male wearing a black jacket and ball cap had concealed merchandise and fled the store, getting into a dark-colored Hyundai Sonata with the license plate number GVT1262 as a passenger.
When officers located the vehicle on River Trace Lane and attempted to pull it over, the passenger became agitated and began punching the driver. The driver then stopped the car, jumped out, and the passenger climbed into the driver’s seat, putting the car into drive. The suspect drove off at a high speed, passing other motorists on the shoulder and traveling eastbound on U.S. 35 at a speed of over 80 mph.
The police department engaged in a pursuit, but commanding officers eventually ordered it to be terminated. When officers returned to the area of River Trace Lane and North Bridge Street, they were unable to locate the original driver. The vehicle was registered to a deceased woman from Portsmouth and the case is still under investigation with no arrests made at this time.