Sheriff: Man drove 116 mph, eluded deputies

MILAN TWP. — A Norwalk man is facing a felony charge after allegedly fleeing from deputies last week. Trevor D. Key, 39, of the 5100 block of U.S. 250, is facing one fourth-degree felony count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. He is additionally facing three misdemeanors: no operator's license, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and speeding: 116 mph in a 55 mph zone. Just before 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a deputy monitoring Milan Road traffic near the 10300 block saw a motorcycle traveling at what appeared to be well above the posted 55 mph speed limit, according to an Erie County Sheriff's Office report. The deputy activated his radar unit and reportedly clocked the bike at 116 mph, more than double the posted speed limit. He then pulled out onto Milan Road (U.S. 250) and tried to catch up to the bike with lights and sirens activated, the report states. The deputy noted that the southbound bike appeared to be passing other motorists using both the berm and in a lane-splitting fashion. He was not sure if the motorcyclist was actively eluding or if he had not noticed the deputy's lights and siren, the report states. Milan police were alerted as well as Huron County and Norwalk units. A Milan officer activated his emergency exterior lights near U.S. 250 and Ohio 113 East. Not only did the cyclist not pull over, but he reportedly passed other vehicles using the oncoming traffic lanes, the report states. The deputy terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns and authorities turned to a license plate reader database. They got a hit for that motorcycle at about 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Ohio 4 and Ohio 2 at about 12:30 p.m. The deputy was then able to obtain the bike's license plate and, running the plate, found that the registered owner lived in the 5100 block of U.S. 250 N. in Norwalk. When deputies arrived at the location, there appeared to be a single tire rut in the grass leading to the home's shed. They were able to make contact with the registered owner, who arrived shortly thereafter. She was able to get Key to exit the home, the report states. He told deputies that he was showering and didn't realize law enforcement was outside. The bike's registered owner then opened the shed for deputies, who discovered a bike matching the description of the one that had fled earlier. The bike was towed from the scene. The report states that Key smelled strongly of intoxicants. Key claimed he only began drinking once he returned home, according to the report. He was taken to Erie County Jail and has since been released on a $15,000 bond. Key has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday before Judge Carl Kamm in Erie County Municipal Court.