FINDLAY, Ohio — Just after 2 p.m. on Thursday, a motorist flagged down a Findlay police officer on patrol, reporting a hit and run accident that had just occurred on N. Blanchard St. The officer was directed to pursue a truck that had struck another vehicle and fled the scene.
The driver of the truck failed to stop after the officer made an attempt to pull him over with lights and sirens activated. The suspect continued driving. Another officer assisted in the pursuit.
The truck continued to flee, with the suspect leading chase through Fostoria and on to Tiffin at speeds reaching 110 mph. The chase spanned a total of 26.1 miles before the truck broke down and came to a stop in Seneca Co.
When officers ordered the driver, 28-year-old Ryan Yoakum of Tiffin, to exit the vehicle, he refused and began yelling at the officers. Yoakum yelled "shoot me" and "kill me", according to the police report. Yoakum continued to refuse to comply to orders and officers broke the driver side window of the truck. When threatened with a K9, Yoakum complied and exited the vehicle where he was taken into custody without further incident.
The injury accident that led to the chase involving Yoakum happened on W. Trenton Ave. in Findlay. Yoakum failed to stop for stopped traffic and Kelli Ferdinandsen of Findlay. Ferdinandsen's vehicle then struck the car ahead of her, driven by Tara Allen, also of Findlay. Allen's passenger, Michael Allen, was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital by ambulance.
Ferdinandsen and her passenger, Elijah Miller, complained of injury but refused transport.
Yoakum sustained minor cuts from the broken glass window. Officers located drugs and around 40 needles in Yoakum's truck. A dirty needle and a loaded needle were also found. Officers believe Yoakum may have used the needle while stopped and refusing to exit his truck.
While returning to Findlay, officers requested transport of Yoakum to check for possible overdose. He was taken to and cleared by Blanchard Valley Hospital.
Yoakum was booked at the Hancock County Justice Center on multiple charges including fleeing and eluding police, leaving the scene of an injury accident, possession of drugs and two felony warrants from Sandusky.
