AVON LAKE, Ohio — One person is in custody after allegedly leading police from multiple Northeast Ohio departments on a lengthy slow-speed chase overnight.
According to a police report from the Avon Police Department, the situation started shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday when officers were advised by dispatch that a vehicle “had just fled from the Westlake Police Department” after an attempted traffic stop on I-90 West.
The vehicle – a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu registered in Cleveland – was spotted heading eastbound on Chester at Nagel.
“The suspect vehicle was traveling without any rear taillight illumination,” according to the police report.
DETAILS OF THE PURSUIT
When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, the police report says the driver fled eastbound on Just Imagine Drive at approximately 58 mph.
A pursuit began with police saying the suspect vehicle nearly struck a cruiser at one point while turning around in a parking lot.
During the pursuit, stop sticks were deployed successfully with police saying both passenger-side tires were impacted.
The suspect allegedly continued driving at a low rate of speed, however, on Just Imagine Drive.
When more stop sticks were deployed, the police report says the suspect vehicle traveled off the road to avoid making contact.
Police say the suspect vehicle slowed from approximately 18 mph down to 12 mph near Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet of Avon amid its flat tires in the 37900 block of Chester Road.
Police say they repeatedly issued commands to the suspect through a PA system, “but they were ignored.”
More stop stick attempts were made, but police say “the suspect traveled off of the roadway” to avoid them.
A North Ridgeville officer joined the pursuit at Route 611 and Chester Road.
“As the suspect traveled along Recreation Lane, he ran a stop sign at the intersection at Baseball Boulevard,” according to the police report.
More stop sticks were used, but these only impacted the passenger-side tires again.
POLICE USE PIT MANEUVER
Going approximately 13 mph, the suspect allegedly continued northbound from Recreation Lane through the intersection at Route 611 and onto Miller Road at 1:09 a.m. The pursuit then crossed over the railroad tracks on Miller Road into Avon Lake at 12 mph.
“Due to the totality of the circumstances, including the suspect’s dangerous and erratic driving as well as the lengthy duration of the pursuit,” authorities authorized a PIT maneuver (Pursuit Intervention Technique) on the vehicle.
After police say a final warning was given through the PA system, a PIT maneuver was conducted on Miller Road at the intersection with Electric Boulevard while the suspect vehicle was reportedly traveling at 14 mph.
“The suspect vehicle was not boxed in after the PIT maneuver, and continued driving southbound on Miller Road,” according to the police report.
Another PIT was made, “causing the suspect vehicle to spin and face northbound.”
But it didn’t stop the vehicle as police say it continued driving “at very low speeds” between 6-10 mph at times.
Additional attempts with stop sticks with police from Avon Lake, Bay Village and Westlake were unsuccessful, according to the report.
PURSUIT COMES TO AN END
Westlake police conducted another PIT maneuver at Lake and Cahoon roads, but the suspect allegedly continued driving.
Another PIT, however, brought the pursuit to an end once police say the vehicle went into a ditch and came to rest in the 600 block of Cahoon Road in Westlake.
The suspect was ordered out of the vehicle. Police say he complied with their commands and was arrested.
Avon police say they're charging the suspect -- identified as Nathaniel Blevins -- with failure to comply, driving under suspension, OVI and other traffic offenses. Westlake police, meanwhile, tell 3News they will charge him with felony fleeing and drug paraphernalia for items allegedly found in the vehicle.
