GALLIA COUNTY, Ohio — Gallia County Sheriff Matt Champlin issued a statement detailing a high-stakes vehicle pursuit that traversed multiple states, ultimately resulting in the arrest of a Michigan man in the early hours of Friday, February 9.
The ordeal commenced around 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, as deputies from the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office were alerted to a stolen vehicle originating from Michigan spotted on U.S. 35 within Gallia County. The suspects, in an attempt to evade capture, took a daring detour in the Rio Grande area, purloining a license plate from a similar vehicle before resuming their eastward trajectory on U.S. 35, now bound for West Virginia.
West Virginia State Police were promptly notified and initiated pursuit as the stolen vehicle crossed into Mason County. The chase, marked by its intensity, saw the suspects executing a dramatic reversal of direction, reentering Ohio. Gallia County deputies deployed tire spikes near the S.R. 850 exit along U.S. 35, causing the stolen vehicle to falter as it continued toward Bidwell, ultimately succumbing to mechanical failure.
The apprehension of Nathan Matthews, 38, hailing from Pullman, Michigan, marked the culmination of a collaborative effort between Gallia County deputies and troopers from both the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the West Virginia State Police.
