Authorities say a man who led law enforcement on a multi-county chase was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, Pataskala police responded to a home regarding a man making threats of suicide. He also made statements that he would harm law enforcement if they were contacted.
Police and the sheriff’s office searched the area around the man’s residence but were unable to find him.
The sheriff’s office said the man made threats to officers over the phone, saying that he would ram their vehicles and fire his weapon at them.
The man was located in the area of West Main Street in Newark but fled from the police.
The pursuit traveled through the west side of Newark before turning southbound on SR-79 from 30th Street. It continued to eastbound I-70 into Muskingum County.
Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol successfully used deflation devices near mile post 152 on I-70. As a result, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a light pole.
Authorities discovered the man was dead upon approaching the vehicle. This incident is still under investigation.
