SCDN exclusive audio of recent car chase reaching 100 mph
Here is the article recapping the story that appeared in the Portsmouth Daily Times.
At just before noon Oct. 2, an attempt by police to serve a warrant from the Scioto County Sheriff’s office turned into what Portsmouth police say was in excess of a 100 mph pursuit westbound out of the city on SR 52.
The route of the roughly five-mile chase took the suspect and police through a Portsmouth West school zone and at least close to Earl Thomas Conley Park.
A report states police spotted the suspect, Charles Chester Sanford, 48, of West Portsmouth, deliberately trying to avoid the gaze a police officer while passing through the intersection of 12th and Offnere streets. Noting what they said was suspicious behavior, police ran the suspect’s plates, which came back as belonging to Sanford, who had an active warrant for his arrest.
Police say they attempted a traffic stop and Sanford initially appeared to be pulling over and stopping. He then allegedly, suddenly cut his steering wheel to the left, crossed two lanes of traffic and drove into the turnaround behind the OSCO plant. Police said he then headed towards the intersection of 11th and Chillicothe streets. Police lost him for a time, then spotted him again headed west on 12th.
“As we left the city our speeds were in excess of 100 mph,” the police report reads in part. “As we passed through the Portsmouth West school zone, the driver went left of center and drove down the suicide lane (middle turn lane.)”
Shortly after the driver allegedly went left of center, and as the pursuit approached Conley Park, the officer in pursuit was advised to terminate that pursuit but follow at a safe distance. The officer followed Sanford to his home on Stoney Run Road. When he exited his car, police stated he was arrested at gunpoint.
Sanford is charged with failure to comply. The public police report on the pursuit does not state the offense for which the warrant was issued. At one point, the report talks about police notifying the sheriff’s office in reference to a crash report due to a vehicle hitting a house but offers no further details. Police were not available for further comment by deadline for this issue.
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