North Robinson, OH - Crawford Co. Sheriff's Cruiser Stolen - Chase - Crashed Cruiser Into Ditch - Wrecked

NORTH ROBINSON — Crawford County Sheriff’s deputies found themselves in pursuit of one of their own vehicles early Christmas morning. Hilliard resident Nathan J. Cox, 22, was arrested after stealing a sheriff’s cruiser and another vehicle following a routine traffic stop in North Robinson.

Cox was stopped at 3:01 a.m. Monday on Ohio 602 in the village.

“They (Sheriff’s deputies) had him for speeding and saw him weaving in his own lane,” Crawford County Sheriff Ron Shawber said. “When he rolled down the window, the odor of marijuana was so strong let’s just say it was obvious.

“Inventory of the car revealed several bags of marijuana and other suspicious items.”

In addition to being cited for speeding and marked lanes violations, Cox was arrested there on a charge of felony marijuana possession, handcuffed and seat-belted in the cruiser.

Cox managed to slip out of the handcuffs and stole the cruiser.

Two Ohio State Patrol units from the Bucyrus post and two Sheriff’s deputies gave pursuit northbound on Ohio 602. Cox crashed the cruiser on Swabb Road south of Ohio 103 where he stole a Chevy 3/4-ton pickup from a residence on Ohio 103, near the crash site.

Both stolen vehicles were eventually recovered.

“We’re still having that assessed,” Shawber said about the damage to the cruiser after Cox drove it into a ditch and hit a cement embankment. He described the damage as “appearing to be mostly to the undercarriage” of the vehicle.

Cox later was arrested on Ridgeton Road at his parents’ home.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Cox faces several felony charges and is being held at the Justice Center pending a court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon in Galion.


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