Evening filled with wrong-way trip down the interstate ends in arrest for a man named Joy

NOBLE COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) – Local deputies forced a vehicle off the road after the driver traveled in the wrong direction on I-77.

Ezekiel Joy of Youngstown, Ohio allegedly led Noble County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed June 23 in the Caldwell area after Deputy Jeffrey Perry attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle for traffic violations, according to the sheriff’s social media.

The post reads:

“The suspect vehicle exited Interstate 77 at the Caldwell exit and traveled eastbound onto State Route 78 before making a U-turn. The suspect vehicle then traveled westbound on State Route 78 where it turned onto the southbound off-ramp of Interstate 77. At this point, the suspect vehicle was traveling northbound on the southbound ramp.

Deputy Perry took decisive action to end the pursuit and performed a PIT maneuver forcing the suspect vehicle to exit the roadway onto the berm. The suspect vehicle then struck a light pole causing it to spin perpendicular to the lanes of travel of the interstate.

As the suspect vehicle was still moving, the driver, Ezekiel Joy of Youngstown, Ohio, and two other passengers [allegedly] fled from the vehicle on foot, the suspect vehicle then continued traveling driverless across the southbound lanes into the median heading near head-on into northbound traffic.

Corporal Cory Baker who was responding to assist in the pursuit observed the driverless car crossing the median and used his patrol car to strike the suspect vehicle bringing it to a stop in the median, preventing it from striking vehicles in northbound lanes.

Sheriff Jason Mackie along with deputies and K9 Cora and K9 Tuco located and apprehended Ezekiel Joy and the other two passengers. Mr. Joy was transported to the Noble County Jail where he was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a felony of the third degree. Joy was also cited for failing to signal, failing to wear a seatbelt, and driving under suspension.

Noble County Prosecutor Jordan Croucher is reviewing the case, additional charges are being considered for the driver and the passengers who fled from the suspect vehicle.

Sheriff Mackie commended the efforts of Deputy Jeffrey Perry and Corporal Cory Baker as their swift actions saved many lives and their commitment to this county keeps our community safe.

“Both Deputies placed themselves between the danger and the public, disregarding their own personal safety, we could never ask any more of them. I commend them both,” said Mackie.

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