Speeding suspect faces nine charges after pursuit

An attempted traffic stop ended with a car crash in downtown Ironton on Saturday.

At 7:40 a.m., troopers from the Ironton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol tried to stop a vehicle for excess speed near Hanging Rock on U.S. 52.

The vehicle refused to stop, even after the troopers activated their blue lights, and the car took the State Route 650 exit onto N. Second Street.

The car was chased onto Center Street.

“He ends up crashing his vehicle at that time into a telephone pole and got out and then took off on foot down the railroad tracks,” said Ironton police detective Captain Joe Ross.

Two Ironton Police officers, Patrolman Evan McKnight and Sgt. Jamie Pruitt, joined the pursuit.

The two officers chased the suspect and caught him and turned him over to the OSHP.

McKnight and Pruitt were injured as was the suspect. They were taken to the hospital and released after treatment of minor injuries.

“They were treated for lacerations to their hands and knees,” Ross said. “They were on those big rocks they have along the railroad. I guess the officers had to tackle the guy and that’s when it happened. I’m glad everyone is OK. It was a tense situation, I’m glad that we could assist the State Patrol.”

The suspect, Anthony H. Caldwell, 24, of Franklin Furnace, was taken to the Lawrence County Jail. He was charged with failure to comply, failure to control, speed violation, driving under suspension, possession of marijuana, obstructing official business, possession of drug paraphernalia and not wearing a seat belt.

He appeared in court on Monday.