Dennison man leads police on high-speed pursuit through Tuscarawas, Stark Counties

A high-speed police pursuit spanning two counties ended with the arrest of a Dennison man after he crashed a stolen truck near New Philadelphia on Thursday, according to New Philadelphia Police Capt. David Morris.

The suspect, 29-year-old Dale Doughty, faces multiple felony charges following the 35-minute chase, which began around 12:50 p.m. Thursday when officers identified a white Ford F-150 matching the description of a stolen vehicle in downtown New Philadelphia. Authorities confirmed the truck was stolen and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, prompting Doughty to flee, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph as he attempted to evade capture.

The chase took officers along a winding route, starting in downtown New Philadelphia before heading south on State Route 39 toward Roswell. Doughty maneuvered the truck through Pleasant Valley and Johnstown Road, later turning onto State Route 800, which led officers north toward Zoar. The pursuit continued on narrow, rural roads including Froman Hill, Dover Zoar Road, Black Snake Hill, Ruslin Hills, and Schneiders Crossing, then looped back onto French Hill Road and Towpath Road near Bolivar.

As the chase crossed into the village of Bolivar and onto Industrial Parkway, a passenger jumped from the moving vehicle, sustaining minor injuries, Capt. Morris said. Doughty continued along Shetler Road before crossing over State Route 212 and entering Stark County, where officers attempted to deploy spike strips at the intersection of Blough and Route 212 as the chase returned to Tuscarawas County. In an effort to avoid the strips, Doughty crashed into a telephone pole and struck a semi-truck. However, he continued to flee in the stolen truck, eventually turning onto Bardell Avenue, where he lost control and veered through a cornfield.

With the vehicle slowing, officers performed a rolling roadblock on Bardell Avenue, bringing the pursuit to an end and taking Doughty into custody.

Doughty is facing felony charges, including failure to comply with police orders and receiving stolen property. Additional charges are expected pending assessment of damages to the cornfield and semi-truck he collided with during the chase.

The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted in the pursuit. “We appreciate their help in apprehending the suspect,” Morris added.