Liverpool Township man leads police on high-speed chase across state lines | News, sports, jobs

LACROFT – A Liverpool Township man is in big trouble after leading an Ohio police officer on a high-speed chase across state lines just over a week ago.

A Liverpool Township police officer charged Ronald M. Melott, of LaCroft Avenue in East Liverpool, with reckless operation for that actual case.

While conducting speed checks along a work zone on State Route 7 near Kountz Avenue at 1:49 a.m. on Oct. 6, the officer observed Melott’s teal Saturn SUV traveling at a high rate of speed above the posted 55 mph zone.

The officer estimated the vehicle was traveling approximately 100 miles per hour and attempted to initiate a traffic stop with flashing lights and sirens; however, the vehicle traveled north onto West 8th Street in East Liverpool and then exited State Route 39 eastbound to the Jennings Randolph Bridge. After traveling along State Route 8 in Hancock County, West Virginia at a high rate of speed, the teal SUV turned onto Locust Hill Road and back onto Shepherd Valley Road, where Melott exited his vehicle on foot, leaving behind a female passenger.

While waiting for support from Hancock County, as their dispatch center could no longer hear the Liverpool Township officer’s radio transmissions, the officer returned to the suspect’s vehicle and discovered the woman had fled.

A quick look through the vehicle revealed a glass methamphetamine pipe, clearly visible on the driver’s seat. Meth would later be found in the center console after Melott was allegedly found injured by a K9 handler from the nearby Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Liverpool Township police report, Melott had multiple felony warrants, including tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony; and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, as well as misdemeanor theft and criminal trespass.

The female passenger was eventually found hiding in an abandoned house on the property where the chase ended.

Although Hancock County has arrested her, no information about her is available as of Tuesday.

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