NEWS RELEASE
June 18, 2024
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that the 911 communication center received a call at 7:36am on Tuesday, 06-18-2024, from a male stating that his pickup truck was just stolen.
The victim advised that he had parked his truck and went into Speedee Mart, located at 220 Center Street Wheelersburg, Ohio, when an unknown male got into his truck and drove away.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that deputies were dispatched and in route to the call when another call came into the 911 communication center stating that the male had wrecked the truck on Hayport Road.
The caller advised that the truck was in a ditch on its side just across the train tracks near the Wheelersburg exit ramp.
Detectives responded to the location of the crash and learnedthat a motorist stopped to assist the man who had just wrecked the truck (stolen). The motorist advised that the male subject jumped into his vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed.
Sheriff Thoroughman advised that the 911 communication center sent out a description of the second stolen vehicle, including the tag number, to all local law enforcement. A Coal Grove police officer located the vehicle and attempted to stop it.
The suspect refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated which reached speeds over 100 mph. Several law enforcement agencies assisted with the pursuit, to include South Point, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The pursuit came to an end when the stolen vehicle broke down on County Road 1 in Lawrence County in front of where an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper was working an off-duty detail.
The suspect got out of the stolen vehicle, put his hands up and stated he was done. The pursing officers then arrived on scene.
The suspect was transported to Saint Mary’s in Ironton where hewas treated and released. Detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office transported him to the sheriff’s office.
Detectives learned that the suspect was court ordered in Lawrence County to a rehabilitation center in Portsmouth, Ohio.
The suspect attempted to cut his ankle monitor off before fleeing the facility on foot around midnight. While walking back to Chesapeake the suspect stole the two vehicles in Wheelersburg.
Arrested was Johnny Dale Lewis, age 41, of Chesapeake, Ohio. Lewis has been charged with two counts of Grand Theft Auto, a felony of the 4th degree, and one count of felony theft, a felony of the 5th degree.
Lewis is being held on a $12,500 bond and will appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Lewis also has pending charges for traffic violations in Lawrence and Scioto Counties as a result of the pursuit. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be handling those charges.
Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that he would like to thank all of the other agencies who assisted during this incident.
This is still an ongoing investigation, anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091