Lockland officer fatally shoots suspect on NB I-75 after chase ends in crash

EVENDALE, Ohio (WXIX) - A Lockland police officer fatally shot a suspect on northbound Interstate 75 after a chase ended in a crash early Wednesday, police said.

The incident closed all lanes of NB I-75 for more than four hours before the highway reopened during the morning commute.

The officer who shot the suspect was not physically hurt, according to Lockland Police Chief Michael Ott.

It all started with a police chase that spanned two counties shortly after 2:30 a.m.

West Chester police began pursuing a stolen vehicle at Princeton Glendale Road (also called Ohio 747) and Provident Drive, according to a township spokeswoman, Brianna Wooten.

The blue Hyundai was speeding about 100 mph at one point on eastbound I-275 from Ohio 4, according to initial emergency communication reports.

Police “received a notification of a stolen vehicle from a license plate reader,” she said. “Our officers located the vehicle and attempted to pull it over, but the suspect fled. We pursued the vehicle for approximately six miles and terminated the pursuit at the Hamilton County line.”

Evendale police and other agencies responded to assist the chase as it entered Hamilton County around 2:45 a.m., Evendale Police Chief Tim Holloway said in a 4:21 a.m. news release.

“The vehicle involved in the pursuit was found crashed in the area of Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive. There were no suspects at the scene. An officer from a neighboring jurisdiction who was in the area looking for suspects encountered a male subject on NB I-75.

“During this encounter, this officer fired shots at the suspect,” the news release continues. “Medical assistance was requested but the suspect did not survive. The incident remains under investigation and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be handling the investigation.

Lockland police found one of the suspects and took that person into custody.

Then, a “Lockland officer located another suspect walking along I-75 just north of Shepherd Lane in Evendale,” Lockland’s police chief told FOX19 NOW in a phone interview.

“The officer reported the suspect had something in his hands and was refusing to obey commands. The officer attempted to use less lethal force to address the non-compliant suspect but the Taser didn’t stop the suspect.

“The suspect continued to refuse to obey commands and then the Lockland officer had to resort to his firearm. The suspect was shot in the chest and fell to the ground.”

Officers on the scene gave life-saving medical care to the suspect, he said. EMS arrived and provided additional medical support, however, the suspect was pronounced dead.

When asked if the suspect was found with a gun or other weapon, the chief responded: “BCI is still investigating that. That is part of their investigation. When they have information to release on a weapon, they will.”

The chief did not release the name of the officer who killed the suspect but said he is a veteran officer who has worked for other area law enforcement agencies.

In addition to Evendale and West Chester police, Sharonville officers also chased the vehicle - briefly - but cut off the pursuit well before the crash, said Sharonville Sgt. Walter Cordes.

Sharonville officers gave medical aid to the suspect but he died at the scene, he said.

FOX19 NOW requested body camera and/or cruiser camera footage from all involved departments.

Lockland police are testing four body cams right now and do not have cruiser cameras, the chief said.

The officers who are assigned to wear the body cams were not working overnight, he added.

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