A late-night pursuit that started outside Portsmouth ended in one of the last places a fleeing suspect probably wanted to stop—the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office parking lot.
Portsmouth police were called in around 1 a.m. after Ohio State Highway Patrol dispatch advised that stop sticks had been deployed near the Buffalo Wild Wings overpass.
According to the report, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office was actively pursuing a vehicle heading toward Portsmouth.
🚔 FROM PURSUIT TO PARKING LOT
The chase continued into the city before turning onto 15th Street.
For reasons known only to the driver, the pursuit eventually came to a stop inside the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office parking lot.
As getaway plans go, parking at the jail is generally considered a poor strategy.
👀 THE FIGHT WASN’T OVER
According to reports, the suspect did not surrender peacefully once the vehicle stopped.
Police documented a use-of-force incident, and Portsmouth officers were called in to photograph injuries and evidence associated with the arrest.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment before being returned to custody.
⚖️ CHARGES FILED
Police arrested Chester Harrison of Wheelersburg on charges of:
- Failure to Comply / Fleeing and Eluding
- Obstructing Official Business
He was booked into the Scioto County Jail and later appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court.
The court released Harrison on his own recognizance pending further proceedings.
He is scheduled to return to court in just a few days. However, he was booked back into the Scioto County Jail two days later on a charge of disorderly conduct.
📋 NOT HIS FIRST RECENT CASE
Court records show Harrison was charged with obstructing official business earlier this year, although that case was later dismissed.
Records also show he was charged with OVI in March and was convicted of OVI in December of last year.
Now prosecutors will be adding another case to the docket.
🚨 WHY POLICE USE STOP STICKS
Stop sticks are tire-deflation devices designed to safely end pursuits by gradually reducing a vehicle’s ability to continue fleeing.
Law enforcement agencies often use them when a pursuit creates a danger to other motorists, pedestrians, or officers.
In this case, even after stop sticks were deployed, the pursuit continued until the vehicle finally came to a stop in a location that was already surrounded by law enforcement.
For officers involved, that’s probably about as convenient as a pursuit ending can get.
