Man pleads not guilty in police chase case

7/12/2006

VAN WERT, Ohio - An Oakwood man pleaded not guilty in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court yesterday to a two-count indictment charging him with fleeing and eluding and escape, both third-degree felonies.

The Van Wert County Sheriff's Office said Johnny R. Foust fled from deputies when they tried to stop him for a traffic violation on May 31. Mr. Foust allegedly drove at high speeds down Lincoln Highway, entered Delphos, and exited on the east side, where he crashed on Defiance Trail just south of State Road. Mr. Foust suffered minor injuries in the accident.

The escape charge involves Mr. Foust's failure to return to jail after being allowed to go to the Veterans Service Office in the courthouse on June 27 to arrange for counseling. He was apprehended in Oakwood by the Oakwood Police Department the following evening.

Judge Charles Steele set a $20,000 cash bond, along with a $5,000 unsecured personal surety bond.