Liverpool Twp. man charged in high speed chase
LACROFT — A Liverpool Township man finds himself in a load of trouble, after leading an Ohio police officer on a high speed chase across state lines just over a week ago.
A Liverpool Township police officer charged Ronald M. Melott, of LaCroft Avenue in East Liverpool, with reckless operation for that actual case.
While running speed checks along a work area at 1:49 a.m. Oct. 6 on state Route 7 near Kountz Avenue, the officer noticed Melott’s teal Saturn SUV traveling at a high rate of speed above the posted 55 mph zone.
Estimating the vehicle to be traveling around 100 mph, the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop with lights and sirens; however, the vehicle continued north onto West 8th Street in East Liverpool and then exited onto state Route 39 traveling eastbound to the Jennings Randolph Bridge. After continuing on state Route 8 in Hancock County, West Virginia, at a high rate of speed, the teal SUV turned onto Locust Hill Road and back Shepherd Valley Road, where Melott exited his vehicle on foot, leaving a female passenger behind.
Awaiting for backup from Hancock County, as their dispatch could not hear the Liverpool Township officer’s radio transmissions any longer, the officer returned to the suspect’s vehicle and found that the female had fled.
A quick glance through the vehicle produced a glass methamphetamine pipe in plain view on the driver’s seat. Later, meth would be found in the center console after Melott would be found by a K9 handler from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office nearby injured.
According to the Liverpool Township police report, Melott had multiple felony warrants, including tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony; and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, as well as misdemeanor theft and criminal trespass.
The female passenger eventually was found hiding in an abandoned house on the property where the pursuit had ended.
Although Hancock County placed her under arrest, no information is available about her as of Tuesday.