A Massillon man, 57-year-old Paul Whitt, faces his 13th operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) charge after a traffic stop escalated into a short chase, ending with Whitt driving off-road and into a ditch. Cleveland19 reported that the incident occurred on Monday in U.S. 250 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
In an attempt to pull Whitt over for a traffic violation, troopers were led on a pursuit that continued onto Barnhill Road (County Road 68), where Whitt failed to make a turn, veering off the road successfully. His lengthy history with OVI extends to 12 prior convictions, including four felonies. FOX8's coverage indicates that Whitt was booked into the Tuscarawas County Jail after being medically cleared from the hospital.
Besides the OVI charge, Whitt faces additional charges such as failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, driving under suspension, and not wearing a seatbelt. New Philadelphia Municipal Court has seen Whitt for these offenses where he pleaded his case. The Canton Repository notes Whitt's bail was set at $75,000 cash or surety, and his preliminary hearing is slated for January 14.
The frequency of Whitt's charges paints a problematic reflection of ongoing struggles with impaired driving enforcement and prevention. The Ohio State Highway Patrol asks the public to actively report impaired drivers to prevent events similar to those in Tuscarawas County. With multiple channels like #677 or 911, these efforts aim to ensure safer roads in Ohio and serve as a call to action that echoes beyond state lines.
