PRICE
The man who led police on a multi-county chase before crashing on U.S. 33 is now facing additional charges for allegedly lying to officials in an attempt to get out of jail.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Kyle Frederick Price, 22, of Reynoldsburg, charging him with felonious assault, receiving stolen property, aggravated possession of drugs, operating a vehicle while under the influence and two counts of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
The charges stem from a Nov. 2 pursuit.
At the scene, Price told investigators he was on a combination of drugs. Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said blood tests have not yet been returned, but Price mentioned Fentanyl, methamphetamines and heroin.
While at the jail, Price allegedly told officials he had swallowed multiple balloons of Fentanyl.
“Actually, he did not ingest anything,” Phillips said. “He lied about that. He lied to get out of the jail to go to the hospital.”
Price was taken to the hospital in Champaign County.
“He was escorted to the hospital by one of our deputies,” Phillips said. “That’s why we are charging him with theft. It cost the taxpayers of this county money when he did that.”
Officials said the chase began about 1:20 p.m., Nov. 2. Columbus Division of Police notified Gahanna Police about a stolen vehicle. Gahanna began chasing the allegedly stolen vehicle, a flatbed truck with a washing machine strapped to the back, while it was on I-270 on the east side of Columbus.
The vehicle traveled around the top of I-270 and exited onto U.S. 33 westbound, toward Marysville.
Law enforcement officials repeatedly tried to stop Price, but officials said he would simply drive around barricades and stop sticks, narrowly missing officers.
Phillips said traffic in the area was heavy and Price’s speed and actions “created serious risk of harm to the public and the officers trying to stop him.”
The chase lasted about 20 minutes according to police reports.
“Upon the vehicle entering the city of Marysville the suspect vehicle crossed the median to avoid stop sticks, then traveled westbound in the median on U.S. 33,” according to a statement from Sgt. Tiffany Weeks of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “The suspect vehicle then returned to the westbound lanes striking two cruisers, a Marysville Police Department cruiser and an Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser.”
Phillips said that after Price crashed and appeared to stop, OSP Sgt. Rustun Schack pulled in behind him and was attempting to get out of his car.
“He had to shut the door because Mr. Price rammed him.”
Marysville Deputy Chief Tony Brooks said there were no Maysville Police officers injured, but the cruiser “sustained heavy damage.”
Schack, of the Columbus Post, did sustain minor injuries and was treated then released, according to Weeks’ statement.
“The officers felt he was under the influence of drugs when they brought him to a stop,” Phillips said.
During the initial appearance, Price admitted he was on drugs at the time of the crash.
The prosecutor said he will seek restitution for not only for the cost of medical care for Price and Schack, but also for the cruisers as well as the guardrails.
“The was a significant amount of damage and a significant cost to the taxpayers associated with that,” Phillips said.
If convicted on all charges, Price could spend as many as 17 years in prison. He remains at Tri-County Regional Jail with bond set at $250,000.