PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — A missing persons investigation leads to a dangerous pursuit in Pickaway County.
The Circleville Police Department was attempting to locate a missing female juvenile on the morning of January 13, 2022. During the investigation, it was learned that the juvenile was possibly waiting for a ride out of town in the area of South Court St.
While searching for the juvenile, Circleville Police detectives discovered a suspicious vehicle in the Sheetz gas station parking lot.
Detectives requested that marked vehicles make contact with the driver. Sergeant McIntyre and Officer Estrada arrived on the scene with detectives. Officers made contact with the driver, who refused to identify himself or explain why he was waiting for anyone or anything. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle after drug paraphernalia was discovered in plain view.
The driver rolled up the window and accelerated away from the officers.
Officers pursued the suspect vehicle as it sped through the Sheetz parking lot southbound.
Once out on South Court Street, the suspect’s vehicle began to slow down, and officers surmised that the suspect was preparing to flee on foot from the rolling vehicle. Due to the suspect’s prior actions and the observation of children on the sidewalk at the next intersection, it was decided to park a cruiser in front of the suspect’s vehicle to prevent it from striking any innocent individuals. Rather than that, the suspect accelerated rapidly, colliding with the police car’s front passenger side, and then pulling away. The suspect slowed down again, and officers observed him reaching into the driver’s side floor area. The suspect then came to a halt once more, and the officers approached the vehicle. The initial cruiser that was struck made a beeline for the stopped suspect vehicle.
The suspect accelerated rapidly and collided with the cruiser once more.
The suspect refused to open the vehicle’s door or exit. Officers were forced to break the window to gain access to the suspect’s room and remove him. A .22 caliber handgun was discovered on the floorboard between the gas and brake pedals.
A large quantity of powder believed to be narcotics was discovered, as well as narcotics paraphernalia.
The suspect refused to identify himself and was identified in court documents as Peter T. Hayes, 34, of Columbus.
Peter was discovered to be wanted on a number of outstanding warrants, including Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Failure to Appear, and Fleeing.
The suspected narcotics in the vehicle were weighed and tested by detectives. 177.5 grams of N, N-Dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT, 1 gram of methamphetamine, and 1 gram of fentanyl were discovered and tested.
Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is a powdered hallucinogen. According to a 2021 case study, the amount of DMT seized is 17 times that of Schedule I narcotics in bulk and has an estimated street value of more than $53,000.00.
Mr. Hayes was arrested and transported to the Pickaway County Jail following his release from Ohio Health Berger Hospital on the following charges: 3 counts of Drug Trafficking, 3 counts of Possession of Drugs, Weapons While Disabled, Carrying Concealed Weapons, Improperly Handling a Weapon in a Motor Vehicle, 2 counts of Felonious Assault, Vandalism, and Failure to Comply.
Officer John Merritt was treated and released on the scene for possible Fentanyl exposure.
Sgt. David McIntyre was treated and released from Ohio Health Berger Hospital after suffering a head injury.
“We are fortunate that this potentially dangerous situation was resolved quickly and with no serious injuries,” said Sergeant David McIntyre.