MEDINA, Ohio — Ali Esaleh, the man who led Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers on a chase last spring on I-271 after allegedly pulling a gun on a mechanic, has been sentenced.
Medina County Common Pleas Court Judge Joyce Kimbler sentenced Esaleh to 10-11.5 years in prison, with 435 days credit. In addition, Esaleh will be on probation for two to five years following his release.
The sentencing came over a month after the 48-year-old Buffalo, N.Y. man pleaded guilty to the following charges on the same day that a jury trial was supposed to begin:
- Aggravated robbery with a firearm specification
- Failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer
- Having weapons under disability
- Felonious assault (two counts)
CASE DETAILS
The case dates back to Thursday, May 11, 2023, when a mechanic claimed a semi-truck driver pulled a gun on him while traveling northbound near I-71 in Medina County's Granger Township. Troopers responded to the scene, but as they approached, Esaleh apparently unhooked his trailer and sped off in the truck.
A chase ensued for more than 10 miles along the interstate before reaching Richfield Township, where local police put out stop sticks in an attempt to bring the vehicle to a standstill. Once the truck arrived, it crashed into a Richfield Police Department cruiser before going off the left side of the highway and hitting a guard rail near State Route 303. Esaleh then got out of the cab and ran away into the woods with his firearm still in hand.
Multiple law enforcement agencies then searched for Esaleh for the better part of the next four hours.
Later that night, authorities say they found the Esaleh unconscious at the bottom of a ravine, still in possession of the weapon. He was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
