Theft suspect evades capture in Findlay

1/16/2009

FINDLAY A man who allegedly robbed a Kroger store in Findlay led police on a high-speed chase yesterday, eventually evading capture after authorities suspended the chase for safety reasons, police said.

A Findlay police officer was flagged down in the parking lot of the grocery store at 1996 Tiffin Ave. about 1:45 a.m. yesterday after a man fled from the store in a red minivan.

An employee of the store tried to stop the suspect as he loaded merchandise in his van, but was struck by the van as it pulled forward. The employee was on the hood of the van for about 150 feet before falling off but suffered only minor injuries.

Within minutes, officers spotted the van and attempted to stop it at Tiffin Avenue and Woodworth Drive. The pursuit continued through Findlay to I-75 and reached speeds of more than 90 mph before being stopped due to unsafe road conditions and high speeds.