An inmate led police on a chase in a stolen semi truck on Monday morning after escaping from a litter detail in Ohio.
According to Bellefontaine Examiner, 35-year-old inmate Andrew Claybaugh was on litter detail along State Route 47 by the Bellefontaine Municipal Airport when he ran off and stole a nearby Peterbilt semi truck owned by the Shelly Paving Company.
Claybaugh took off in the bobtail semi truck east on SR 47, and officials contacted the owner of the semi truck, who was able to track the rig via GPS and relay its location to police. The semi truck was located in the 5700 block of Church Road in Champaign County by deputies, who activated their lights and sirens, but Claybaugh drove away. Claybaugh then reportedly drove 73 mph in a 55 mph zone, ran stop signs, and committed various other traffic violations, including straddling a double yellow line on State Route 560.
A Champaign County detective was eventually able to throw spike strips and deflate the front passenger tire, but the rig continued on State Route 29 at around 60 mph. The front right tire eventually came off the rim, causing the semi to go off the right side of the road into a yard.
Claybaugh was ordered to exit the vehicle at gunpoint and deputies gained control of his left arm. Claybaugh refused to give deputies control on his right arm, so K9 Thor was released and engaged with Claybaugh’s right arm to allow deputies to gain control.
Claybaugh is now facing charges of escape, a second-degree felony, and grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. He was previously incarcerated on felony drug charges.