Xavier Ford. Contributed photo.
A Trumbull County grand jury on March 19 indicted a Warren man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase from Sharon throughout Trumbull County on Feb. 14.
Xavier A. Ford, 34, faces a charge of failing to comply with an order or signal from a police officer. He is due to be arraigned April 15.
According to Brookfield police, Sharon police attempted to pull over Ford’s car for having illegal window tint and stopping in a crosswalk. He did not stop and drove into Masury on Route 62, Brookfield police said.
Sharon police followed Ford throughout Masury and Ford did doughnuts in the parking lot of the Addison Road football field, police said. Brookfield police joined the pursuit westbound on Route 82. Ford’s car topped a speed of 130 mph, and headed north on Route 11, police said. Ford exited onto Route 87 in Gustavus and re-entered Route 11 heading southward, police said.
Ohio Highway Patrol laid stop spikes on the highway in Johnston, police said. Ford drove over the spikes – which shredded his tires – stopped the car and got out and ran, police said.
Police ran after Ford into woods and caught him soon after, police said.
Ford told police he fled because he was wanted for arrest in Pennsylvania, although he could not be extradited from Ohio for it, police said. Court records indicate Mercer County issued an arrest warrant in 2022 charging Ford with indirect civil contempt for failing to pay costs and restitution in a corruption of minors case.
Ford said he had fled Sharon police “several times” and normally went through Brookfield because he could get through town before Brookfield police could be engaged, police said.
The pursuit covered 35 miles and lasted 18 minutes, police said.
Sharon police have charged Ford with felony fleeing and five traffic offenses.
