A Halloween night traffic stop in Liberty turned into a high-speed chase that topped out near 90 mph in a posted 25 mph residential zone, ending with a 46-year-old Youngstown man in handcuffs and, as of Monday evening, still behind bars at the Trumbull County jail. Briston Ashburn now faces charges of resisting arrest, driving under suspension and failure to comply, with the case headed to Girard Municipal Court.
Chase Began After Officer Spotted Charger Near Belmont Avenue
According to The Vindicator, an officer noticed a white Dodge Charger with dark tinted windows and a black spoiler in a lot between Belmont Avenue and Tibbetts Wick Road. When the car accelerated and the driver saw a police cruiser behind it, the Charger sped up, at one point fish-tailing and nearly accelerating into a vehicle beside it before slowing, the report says.
The driver did not stop when the officer attempted a traffic stop, and the Charger entered Kline’s Farm development on Kline’s Drive, where officers estimated it reached 80 to 90 mph in a 25 mph zone. With parked cars and an oncoming vehicle in the residential area, the officer called off the pursuit, according to the report.
Ohio Requires Written Pursuit Policies
Ohio law requires each law enforcement entity to adopt a written policy for motor-vehicle pursuits and to consider pursuit-policy standards and best-practice recommendations when developing it, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2935.031.
Car Found at Sampson Drive Home, Garage Damaged
Officers later found the Dodge at a Sampson Drive residence. A woman there identified Ashburn as the likely driver, confirmed the car belonged to him and told officers she had spoken with him by phone while he was driving recklessly, according to the police report cited by The Vindicator. She let officers into the home and garage, where they identified the Dodge as the vehicle from the pursuit.
The report says the Charger had run over tools and struck another vehicle in the garage. Officers also reported finding open alcoholic beverages in the car; the responding officer described Ashburn as intoxicated and smelling of alcohol.
Ashburn Resisted Pat-Down, Made Threatening Remark, Report Says
The police report states that Ashburn became agitated, aggressively postured and pulled away when an officer tried to pat him down for weapons. Officers then handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a cruiser. Later, after informing him he was under arrest, officers switched his handcuffs; Ashburn postured up and came face-to-face with another officer, then refused an order to stop resisting and continued to struggle. The report notes officers used no additional force against him and that he was not struck or injured during the encounter.
As the reporting officer handed him his citation, Ashburn yelled and argued with officers, according to the report, and made a threatening statement to one of them — roughly, “I’ll see you again.” The supplied account does not include any information on a court date, plea or further proceedings in the case.
