WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio — Willoughby Hills officers arrested two suspects accused of several smash and grabs throughout Northeast Ohio after a police chase led to a crash on Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., a Willoughby police officer parked in a crossover on Interstate 90 observed the suspect's vehicle, a white Chrysler Pacifica, travelling at a high rate of speed past his location.
The officer attempted to catch up with the suspect's vehicle while additional officers ahead of them got into position with tire deflation devices.
The suspect then veered dangerously across three lanes of traffic, entered the exit lane at State Route 91 and crashed into two other vehicles in the off-ramp intersection.
The suspects attempted to flee on foot, but were arrested after a short chase.
The names of the suspects have yet to be revealed, but Willoughby Hills police said a 29-year-old man from West Park, Florida, and a 42-year-old woman from Eastlake are being held on pending charges. A third suspect allegedly fled the area.
Prior to the initial police chase, the suspects had rammed a vehicle in the parking lot of Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. No injuries were reported in the crash.
"More often than not, you deal with criminals that just have a reckless disregard for the safety of other people," Willoughby Hills Police Chief Matthew Naegele told 3News Wednesday. "While certainly trying to be safe about everything that you do as a police officer, you have a duty and obligation to take these people into custody."
We asked for details on the third suspect that ran away. Naegele said they aren't releasing identities at this time, but that more than a dozen agencies across Northeast Ohio are interested in this group of suspects, including law enforcement in Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, and Trumbull counties.
More Headlines on WKYC.com:
- Cleveland police: Drive-by shooting injures 2 men outside Dave's supermarket in Hough neighborhood
- After heated debate, Cuyahoga County Council approves $38 million land purchase for new jail in Garfield Heights
- Man dies, 2 EMTs seriously hurt after overnight crash involving ambulance in Geauga County