Cleveland-area man held after 2-state pursuit

4/18/2010

A Garfield Heights, Ohio, man is in the Lucas County jail after leading Indiana and Ohio troopers on a chase Saturday along the toll roads that ended with his arrest near Toledo Express Airport, authorities said.

Michael Montgomery, 26, is being held without bond on a felony charge of fleeing and a felony warrant for an Indiana drug offense.

The incident began when an Indiana trooper stopped Mr. Montgomery for speeding on the Indiana Toll Road and tried to arrest him on a drug offense.

Mr. Montgomery allegedly ran from the trooper, jumped into his vehicle, and fled east. Troopers gave chase, following the suspect to the Ohio line, where he entered the Ohio Turnpike, causing damage to toll booths.

Ohio troopers picked up the pursuit and tried unsuccessfully to stop the fleeing vehicle by deflating its tires with nail-embedded sticks deployed on the highway.

The chase ended two miles east of the airport in Lucas County, when the driver gave up. The incident is under investigation by both agencies. Indiana authorities plan to seek the suspect's extradition.