Delaware Country Ohio, US Marshals Endanger Public - Was It Justified?

COLUMBUS – A high-speed chase through two central Ohio counties ended with the arrest of a Galion man wanted in connection with an armed holdup in Mansfield.

Members of the U.S. Marshal’S Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team spotted Rudel Chatman near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Case Road on the Northeast Side of Columbus at 11:30 Wednesday morning, according to the office of Delaware County Sheriff Russell Martin.

Chatman, 46, was wanted for armed robbery stemming from an incident that occurred in Mansfield, Martin said.

When the SOFAST officers saw his vehicle, Chatman tried to elude the officers and a pursuit followed on I-71 northbound, during which Chatman drove in excess of 100 mph and occasionally crossed the median to drive northbound in the southbound lanes, Nartin said.

The chase, which eventually involving Delaware County Sheriff’s Office deputies, ended on I-71 near the Delaware-Morrow County line, where Chatman was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for minor injuries, Martin said.

One other person was injured by a crash during the pursuit and was transported to the hospital for treatment for minor injuries, Martin said.
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A Galion man was arrested Wednesday after a crash following a high-speed chase on Interstate 71.

According to officials from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshal’s Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) was attempting to locate and arrest Rudel Chatman, 46, of Galion, for an outstanding warrant of armed robbery, felony of the 1st degree, from an incident that occurred in Mansfield.

Chatman was observed by SOFAST officers in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Case Road driving a vehicle, at which time Chatman started to elude officers and a pursuit began, eventually involving Delaware County Sheriff’s Office deputies on the northbound lanes of I-71.

During the pursuit, authorities reported Chatman was driving in excess of 100 mph as well as traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of 1-71. The pursuit ultimately ended on I-71 in Delaware County near the Morrow County line. Chatman was then transported to the hospital for minor injuries. Another person was transported to the hospital for minor injuries sustained in a crash caused by Chatman’s driving, the sheriff’s office reports.

Chatman was in the custody of U.S. Marshals Wednesday and will be incarcerated after his release from the hospital, the Sheriff’s Office reported.