Man indicted for police chase in stolen car in Ottawa County

7/13/2007

PORT CLINTON - A 20-year-old man has been indicted by the Ottawa County grand jury for two felonies stemming from a July 5 incident in which he reportedly led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car.

Paul N. Thebeau III of Port Clinton was indicted on one count each of failure to comply and theft of a motor vehicle.

Port Clinton police said he led officers on a chase at speeds over 110 mph after officers stopped his car about 3 a.m. July 4.

The chase continued into Sandusky County, with the Ohio Highway Patrol and Sandusky County sheriff's deputies deploying stop spikes at the Ohio Turnpike entrance ramp from southbound State Rt. 53 in Berlin Township, police said.

To avoid the spikes, the fleeing driver tried to enter the ramp but failed to round the curve, causing the car to crash and roll at least once, injuring himself and his two passengers.

Thebeau is to make his initial appearance Aug. 23 in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.

Also recently indicted was David L. Skrepenski, 30, and Robert K. Boling, 33, both of Toledo, each of whom was charged with two counts of felony theft.

According to the indictment, the pair reportedly walked out of a Portage Township business with more than $500 worth of merchandise on two occasions earlier this year. Warrants have been issued for both men.

Skrepenski is being held in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, Stryker.

In April, 2002, the two men were each convicted in Lucas County Common Pleas Court of one count of attempted burglary for stealing $2,700 worth of electronic equipment from a Michigan Kmart store after setting fires to divert employees' attention.

Also indicted were:

•Ryan M. Keefer, 21, of Huron, Ohio, on two counts of burglary. He is accused of entering two homes in Marblehead, Ohio, on July 4. He is being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, according to the indictment.

•Kevin W. Dickens, 20, whose last known address was in Oak Harbor, Ohio, on one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He reportedly engaged in sexual conduct last month with a minor in Elmore. In addition, he is charged with one count of assault for injuries the victim reportedly suffered in the attack.

•Brian G. Rehder, 29, of Port Clinton, on one count of domestic violence after an incident July 5 when he reportedly caused physical harm to a family or household member.

Warrants have been issued for all three individuals.

Also indicted and scheduled to make an initial appearance on Aug. 23 in Common Pleas Court was Stacy L. Vess, 33, of Port Clinton, on one count of identity fraud and one count of theft.

She is accused of using another person's identifying information to set up an account for telephone services, then failing to pay for the services from August, 2006, until February of this year.