BLUFFTON, Ohio — Law enforcement authorities confirmed a Bluffton police officer was killed during a police chase early Thursday morning.
Officials said Officer Dominic Francis was laying spike strips on Interstate 75 when he was struck by a car.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the chase began around 2 a.m., when troopers spotted a black sedan traveling at a high speed on U.S. 23.
Troopers said around 20 minutes later, they spotted the same sedan on State Route 15. The officers said this is when they began a pursuit, which continued onto Interstate 75. OSHP said the car’s speed reached up to 120-130 mph during the chase.
Around 2:30 a.m., near Mile No. 142 on I-75, OSHP said Francis was attempting to deploy stop sticks when he was struck.
OSHP said three suspects got out of the car and ran east from the scene.
Officials said around 3 a.m. on County Road 29, a Toyota Prius was stolen from outside a home. According to police, when officers began searching for the Prius, they located one suspect near the location where the car was stolen.
Police said a second suspect was found in Elyria in Medina County.
A third suspect was caught early Thursday afternoon, OSHP said.
Bluffton Police Chief Ryan M. Burkholder called Francis an “outstanding police officer.”
“His heart was big,” he said. “Not only was he a police officer, he was a school teacher, he was a bus driver, he was a coach to the youth in this community. He had a heart of gold. He will be sorely missed.”
Burkholder said Thursday's incident was the first line-of-duty death since the 1920s.
Mayor Richard Johnson called it a “sad day” for the village of Bluffton.
“The village will do everything it can to help the family out,” he said.
Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags throughout the state to be flown at half-staff until sunset of the day of Francis' funeral.
Editor’s Note: The Ohio State Highway Patrol incorrectly identified U.S. 23 as State Route 23. The article has been corrected. (3/31/22)