Deputies put the brakes on fast drivers

GROTON TWP. — Sheriff's deputies got two dangerous drivers off the road last week. Incident No. 1 Just before 8 p.m. on Sept. 27, an Erie County Sheriff's Office deputy was monitoring traffic on Hayes Avenue (Ohio 4) near Smith Road. The deputy saw a southbound vehicle, and it appeared to be traveling faster than the posted 55 mph speed limit. Once he activated his radar unit, it revealed the vehicle was going more than 90 mph, according to a sheriff's office report. The deputy then gave pursuit. Smith Road is about 1,500 feet north of the highest point of the overpass that carries Ohio 4 over the Norfolk Southern Moorman rail yard. Once the deputy got to the top of the overpass, and while going shy of 100 mph, he relocated the vehicle, still southbound on Ohio 4. As the vehicle approached the intersection with Ohio 113 — a notoriously dangerous intersection — it reportedly went into the northbound lane, passed five southbound vehicles, ran the red light and continued westbound on Ohio 113, the report states. At this point, the vehicle did not have any lights on. The only time the deputy was able to spot the vehicle was when its brakes were applied. Eventually, the vehicle drove off the right side of the road and came to a rest in a field near the 5700 block of Ohio 113, the report states. By this time sheriff's office supervisors asked for mutual aid from Bellevue and Huron County. Deputies and officers were able to order everyone out of the vehicle, an SUV. In total, two adults and six teens were extricated from the vehicle at gunpoint, according to the report. It was found that the party left Cedar Point and was returning home to the Columbus area. The driver, a 17-year-old boy, reportedly told deputies he knew he wasn't allowed to drive past 7 p.m. All of the passengers stated they were unaware that the boy was evading law enforcement because they were all wearing headphones and not paying attention. All of the teens' guardians authorized deputies to release them to the two adults in the car. Those seven people were then given courtesy rides to a Milan Township restaurant to wait for a taxi. The driver was taken to the Erie County Juvenile Justice Center and charged with felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer as well as eight misdemeanors: • Obstructing official business • Reckless operation • Failure to obey a traffic control device • Failure to control • Juvenile traffic offender • No operator's license • Speeding • Delinquency Incident No. 2 After 1 a.m. on Sept. 28, a sheriff's office deputy was northbound on Milan Road (U.S. 250) near Hull Road when he ran a random vehicle registration check and found the vehicle ahead of him had plates that were expired longer than one year. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, according to a sheriff's office report. The vehicle, a Chrysler 200, began slowing and pulling to the right but then abruptly accelerated at a high rate of speed away from the deputy, the report states. The deputy activated his siren and gave chase. Throughout the course of the pursuit, speeds varied but reached a maximum of 80 mph, according to the report. The Chrysler entered Sandusky and turned westbound on Scott Street from Milan Road before continuing onto southbound Campbell Street. A state trooper was near the deputy for the duration of the pursuit and officers from Sandusky and Perkins were advised of the chase and given updates on locations. The driver reportedly blew off numerous traffic signals and other traffic control devices. Eventually, the vehicle went back into Perkins Township and made it to the roundabout at Campbell Street and West Bogart Road. While attempting a turn westbound onto Bogart Road, the vehicle clipped a road sign, and the driver bailed and ran southward. The vehicle continued to roll northwest and a deputy was eventually able to stop it by pulling the emergency brake in a field north of Bogart Road. The driver was quickly apprehended. Autumn O. Feltner, 19, of the 1800 block of Putnam St., Sandusky, was charged with one felony count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. She was additionally charged with eight misdemeanors: • Obstructing official business • Reckless operation • Speeding • Failure to obey a traffic control device • No operator's license • Marked lanes • No seatbelt • Expired plates She was taken to Erie County Jail under a no-bond order, but has since been released. She has a plea hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 9 in Sandusky Municipal Court.