Defiance motorcyclist charged in police chase

7/25/2003

OTTAWA, Ohio — A Defiance man appeared in Putnam County Court yesterday, charged with several violations after leading police on a pursuit into neighboring Defiance County.

Jason Overly, 27, was arraigned on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless operations, failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to comply with the orders of a police officer, no insurance, and criminal damaging. Today, he will appear in Defiance Municipal Court to face similar charges.

According to the Continental Police Department, a call came in just after midnight yesterday advising that the Defiance Police Department was in pursuit of a motorcycle heading south on State Rt. 15. The motorcycle was intercepted at County Road 24 and County Road E in Putnam County, but the driver avoided the roadblock by driving into a ditch and continued to flee.

About 31/2 miles down the road, the driver turned into a bean field and got stuck.

Officers arrested Mr. Overly and brought him to the Putnam County jail.