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Last weekend, Columbus was rocked by a dramatic and dangerous incident that unfolded on the Interstate 70/71 interchange Downtown. After a more than four-hour standoff, Columbus police were able to arrest a man who had caused chaos on the highway. The man allegedly threw tools at officers, threatened to jump from an overpass, and caused a pile-up by hitting multiple vehicles.
The man, whose name has not been released by police, was driving a pickup truck west on I-70 when he collided with four vehicles around 9:15 a.m. on Saturday. Two individuals sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. After the collisions, the man fled the scene but eventually came to a stop on the overpass, where he refused to exit his vehicle.
During the standoff, the man damaged his own vehicle, threw tools at officers, and made threats. One of the projectiles hit an officer in the head, fortunately causing no serious injuries. Police suspect that the man was under the influence of crack cocaine at the time of the incident.
Sergeant James Fuqua stated that the man has been charged with felony assault of a police officer, with additional felony charges expected to follow. The incident resulted in the closure of traffic in both directions on I-70/71 and Route 315, with northbound traffic on I-71 from I-270 also being shut down by Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies.
The man’s vehicle, which was equipped with a snow plow blade, is registered to an individual in Richland County. Despite attempts to involve the man’s family in resolving the situation, they declined to intervene. Initially, police negotiators treated the man’s behavior as a mental health crisis, but it became apparent that his actions were intentional and dangerous.
Fuqua emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that the man’s actions caused injuries and significant disruption to traffic flow. In addition to facing charges for fleeing the scene of a crash and other traffic violations, the man could also be charged with felony assault for his actions towards the officers.
This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes dangerous situations that law enforcement officers face in the line of duty. It also highlights the importance of swift and effective response to ensure public safety in such circumstances.
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Contact: dnarciso@dispatch.com