Police say man, two others tried ‘to ram the cruiser’ with van

By Martha Hardcastle
For the Dayton Daily News

ENGLEWOOD | Police said they caught a Dayton man Thursday when his prosthetic leg fell off.

The chase began in Englewood at 3:30 a.m. when officer Chip Ridgeway noticed a full-sized van parked at Tractor Supply Co. at Hoke Road and Ohio 49.

Ridgeway suspected the men were trying to steal riding lawn mowers, Detective Mike Lang said.

"As soon as they saw the cruiser, the suspects started driving toward the cruiser and swerved around it at the last minute," Lang said.

Ridgeway began to chase the men.

"Our criteria for pursuit is a violent felony, and the suspects attempted to ram the cruiser," Lang said. "So the decision was made to pursue. Also, being in the early hours of the morning with light traffic, the danger to other motorists is diminished."

Sgt. Larry Hicks and Officer Tony Powers of Englewood and Sgt. Steve Caudell of Clayton pursued the vehicle with Ridgeway.

"They went eastbound Interstate 70 to southbound I-75, to eastbound Needmore (Road) to southbound Route (Ohio) 202," Lang said. "Then they traversed some of the plats and came out on Route (Ohio) 201 in Riverside."

The chase ended in Garden Court, a Riverside cul-de-sac, where the suspects could not drive any farther.

"The van sideswiped a tree, so the only person able to flee was the driver, Michael Ford, who took off on foot with the officers in pursuit," Lang said.

Ford's artificial leg then fell off.

"He only made it as far as the back yard as he had a prosthetic leg, which came off when he was running and decreased his mobility."

Ford, 41, James Griffie Jr., 31 and David Jones, 38, were apprehended, with charges pending with the Montgomery County prosecutor. Lang said all three suspects have a criminal history.

[From the Dayton Daily News: 07.26.2002]

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