Fayette County Sheriff announces charges against man accused of stealing vehicle with sleeping teen inside
Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth announced Friday that a Clinton County man is currently in the Fayette County Jail on multiple felony charges, accused in the theft of a motor vehicle with a minor child inside the vehicle at the time.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call on Saturday, July 13 at 12:52 p.m. from a man reporting that his vehicle was stolen while parked at a Jeffersonville business. Additionally, the caller reported that his 15-year-old child was asleep inside the vehicle at the time the vehicle was reported stolen.
As the Communications Center dispatched deputies to the area and alerted surrounding agencies, a second 9-1-1 open line call was received from the minor child inside the vehicle. The Communications Center could hear the juvenile asking the suspect to let her go.
While the call was being monitored, deputies continued attempting to locate the vehicle based upon landmarks being given by the juvenile. At approximately 1 p.m., the juvenile began conversing with the Communications Center, reporting that the suspect stopped the vehicle and the juvenile exited but was unaware of the location. A short time later, off-duty sheriff’s Lt. Matt Weidman located the juvenile in the 4000 block of Palmer Road and alerted the Communications Center that the juvenile was safe. It was reported that the vehicle continued north of Palmer Road toward the Village of Milledgeville.
Deputy Tylan Martin encountered the vehicle on SR 729 near Milledgeville, and upon initiating a traffic stop, the suspect allegedly fled north of SR 729. Deputy Martin pursued the stolen vehicle across SR 435 onto Bluegrass Parkway, where the suspect vehicle and Deputy Martin’s cruiser collided near the roundabout leading into a construction area.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident and was identified as Anthony B. Rucker, 36, of Cuba, Ohio.
Rucker and Deputy Martin both sustained minor injuries in the collision and were transported to Adena Fayette Medical Center, where they were treated and released. Rucker was transported to the Fayette County Jail, where he was incarcerated and charged with felonious assault (F-1), possession of drugs (F-4), theft of a motor vehicle (F-4), fleeing and eluding (F-3) and kidnapping (F-2). Additionally, Rucker has active warrants for his arrest pending in Highland and Clermont counties.
Rucker appeared before the Washington Municipal Court on July 16 for his initial appearance and was ordered held without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation of the traffic collision between the stolen vehicle and the sheriff’s cruiser.
The juvenile was reunited with parents and was unharmed in the incident.
The case will be forwarded to the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office for review and determination of any additional charges.
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