Police: Man fled from traffic stop

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly led officers on a vehicle pursuit early Friday. Chanthony H. Robinson, 26, of the 1600 block of Oakmont Lane, is facing one fourth-degree felony count of failure to obey an order or signal of a police officer. He is also facing several misdemeanors: obstructing official business, driving under an OVI suspension, OVI refusal, lighted lights required, marked lanes, assured clear distance ahead, and leaving the scene of an accident. At about 1:30 a.m., a Sandusky police officer was patrolling on Sycamore Line near Milan Road when she observed a red Chevrolet Cobalt pull out of a tavern's parking lot without sufficient headlights illuminated, according to a Sandusky police report. The officer initiated a traffic stop and the driver initially stopped on Franklin Street near Finch Street. The vehicle, allegedly driven by Robinson, then reversed, nearly striking the cruiser, before it went into drive and fled the scene. The vehicle reached as far north as East Adams Street, as the pursuit snaked through Sandusky city streets. Robinson then traveled on several streets, eventually reaching northbound Vine Street, where he reportedly turned east onto West Monroe Street. Shortly after driving through the Columbus Avenue intersection, Robinson's Cobalt struck a Kia Sportage, which caused the compact SUV to ride up onto the boulevard and strike a tree before coming to a rest in the road. Robinson then turned southbound onto Wayne Street and made it to the 1100 block before his car died. He then fled from the vehicle and hid in a Wayne Street home's backyard, where officers discovered and apprehended him, the report states. The driver of the Kia told police she was Robinson's family member and on their way to pick him up when the crash occurred. Officers noticed "a strong odor of intoxicants," coming from Robinson during his arrest. The report also notes that his speech was slurred. "He kept stating how drunk he was and how he was going to prison," the report states. Robinson was found to have two previous OVI refusals, one in 2025 and one in 2023. As of late Tuesday, Robinson is incarcerated in Erie County Jail under a $23,000 bond. His next court date is Thursday at 11 a.m. in Sandusky Municipal Court, according to jail records.