Two Columbus men have been indicted on at least 30 felony charges each after leading police on a chase spanning four counties with dozens of stolen guns valued at nearly $17,000 earlier this month.
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers from multiple locations engaged in an overnight chase beginning at around 1:40 a.m. on Aug. 3 in Ashland County and continued through Richland, Morrow and Delaware counties, according to Dispatch news partner NBC4/WCMH-TV. Troopers found a 2013 Hyundai Elantra that had been identified as stolen and flagged for distracted driving and speed violations while traveling south on Interstate 71, according to NBC4/WCMH-TV.
NBC4/WCMH-TV reported that troopers activated their overhead lights, and a police chase ensued after
the driver failed to stop. Ohio State Highway Patrol deployed a tire deflation device, causing the vehicle to slow down on ruptured tires and veer off of Lewis Center Road near Alum Creek Lake.
The suspects in the chase were identified as Martell Dawson, 25, and Andez Henry, 18. The two exited the vehicle and attempted to hide in a wooded area, but troopers found and arrested them, according to NBC4/WCMH-TV.
State troopers found two bags, one located in the vehicle and one outside, containing 27 stolen firearms and a stolen taser, according to NBC4/WCMH-TV. Ashland County court records note that the weapons were the property of a Fin Feather and Fur store and were valued at roughly $16,939.
Dawson and Henry are facing 30 and 31 respective charges of failure to comply with a police order, grand theft when the property is a firearm, breaking and entering and receiving stolen property, according to Ashland County court records.
Henry's additional charge is for having weapons under disability. Dawson and Henry were indicted Aug. 13, and their video arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 26, court records show.
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2 Columbus men indicted on 30 felony charges after multi-county chase
