ELYRIA, Ohio — Dashcam video footage released Tuesday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows the pursuit of one of the suspects wanted for the murder of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis.
Officer Francis was killed last Friday morning when he was struck by a vehicle going at high speed while trying to deploy stop sticks on I-75. One of the suspects, 19-year-old Dante Tate, allegedly fled Hancock County in a stolen Toyota Prius and headed east. The Prius was located by a trooper on I-71 in Medina County and Tate was eventually captured in Elyria.
The OSHP video shows the pursuit of Tate going westbound on the Ohio Turnpike in Lorain County. Once troopers were clear of traffic, they attempted to do a "PIT manuever" to try to spin the Prius out of control. Tate was able to work his car into the median and cross over to the eastbound lanes of the turnpike.
You can watch the OSHP dashcam video below:
The video then cuts to the chase taking place on Route 57 in Elyria. Troopers were able to apply the PIT manuever and slammed into the Prius, but Tate was able to get control of the car and drive away. He again drove into the median and was going northbound in the southbound lanes of 57.
Brunswick Hills police also executed a "PIT manuever," which finally forced the Prius to lose control and spin off of Route 57. Officers were able to get Tate to come out of the vehicle when it was off the road.
The incident began at around 2 a.m. Thursday when Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers observed a dark-colored Infiniti sedan traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. Route 23 northbound. That vehicle was then seen approximately 20 minutes later on Route 15 in Hancock County before traveling to I-75 South.
At 2:30 a.m., Officer Francis was trying to deploy stop sticks and was struck by the fleeing vehicle on I-75 near exit 142. He died as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash. The suspects fled the area on foot. While Tate was to the Medina County Jail, 20-year-old Emin Johnson and 21-year-old Zachary Love are incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center.
Funeral services for Francis will be held on Friday.
Previous Reporting:
- Funeral service for fallen officer Dominic Francis to be held at Bluffton University Friday
- Bluffton police officer struck and killed by vehicle on I-75, with chase ending in Elyria; 3 people arrested
- Bodycam video: Brunswick Hills police help capture suspect wanted for death of Bluffton officer
- 3 suspects identified after pursuit involving death of Bluffton officer Dominic Francis