Sidney man held after 3 separate police chases

3/30/2003

PORT CLINTON — Authorities yesterday arrested a Sidney, Ohio, man on the State Rt. 53 exit from eastbound State Rt. 2 after he led them on three separate pursuits in parts of Ottawa, Lucas, and Erie counties over three hours, troopers with the Sandusky post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

The man would not leave his car after it hit the back of a pickup and drove into a ditch, but he was removed by the Ottawa County special response team.

Dennis Pitts, 46, was charged with fleeing and eluding, drug abuse, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated vehicular assault, and driving while intoxicated. He was held in the Ottawa County Jail.

The first pursuit began about 6:15 a.m. when a car drove away from Port Clinton police, which had received a report of a suspicious person in the area. Police and troopers followed the car east on Route 2 into Erie County, but broke off the chase at Bellevue, Ohio.

Ottawa County's Carroll Township police saw the car westbound on Route 2 about 8:40 a.m., followed it into Lucas County, but lost sight of it at Maumee Bay State Park.

The final pursuit began about 9:10 a.m. when state troopers saw the car eastbound on Route 2 at State Rt. 579.

Mr. Pitts was treated at Magruder Hospital here.