On Dec. 4, at approximately 8:09 p.m., William McCrae of Wilmington, N.C., was shopping at United Dairy Farmers in Washington Court House. While parked at the UDF, Dustin Sliker, 19, of Columbus got into McCrae’s vehicle and drove off northbound on state Route 62.
Washington Court House Police notified the Mount Sterling Division of Police about the stolen truck. A short time later, a Mount Sterling officer saw the vehicle enter Mount Sterling. Patrolman Keith Jones attempted to stop the vehicle using overhead lights and a siren. The vehicle failed to comply, and the pursuit began in excess of 50 mph eastbound on Columbus Street.
On state Route 62, the suspect continued his erratic and reckless operation. Jones requested assistance from Harris-burg or Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. At times during the pursuit, Jones pulled beside the vehicle to advise the driver to pull over. The suspect would make contact with his vehicle against the police cruiser.
As the vehicle approached state Route 62 and I-71, the Franklin County Sheriff’s unit met the Mount Sterling Police unit. The suspect’s vehicle was going too fast to make the ramp onto I-71. The vehicle went off the road, then re-entered the ramp going the wrong way. It later struck the Mount Sterling police cruiser, totally incapacitating the cruiser.
Two suspects, Sliker and a 15-year-old juvenile from Columbus, were taken into custody without incident. Sliker was charged with felony failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, receiving stolen property and driving under suspension. State Patrol officers conducted the crash report and charged the suspect with subsequent traffic charges.
Sliker was incarcerated at Tri-County Jail and the juvenile was released to family members. Jones receives minor injuries in the incident.
