Chase suspect arraigned, bond request denied

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By Staff Report

A Fulton County man will likely return to prison after he took Zanesville Police Officers on a chase during a winter weather storm earlier this month.

Officers say, Robert Farmer, 44-years-old, placed the public in serious physical danger by not pulling over before he ultimately crashed and ran from the scene.

According to Lieutenant Derek Shilling and previously reported by Y-City News, Farmer’s vehicle was being operated without headlights back on Tuesday, February 9, as Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz had just upgraded the county to a level two snow emergency.

Officers attempted to make a simple traffic stop and notify the driver about his headlights when Farmer refused to pull over, taking police on a pursuit.

From its initial location along Elm Street, officers followed the maroon Jeep Cherokee across the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge and through the intersection of Adair Avenue and Linden Avenue.

Farmer then ran a red light at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Adair Avenue while taking the chase westward along State Route 146.

According to Shilling, Farmer then continued along SR-146 through its intersection with Blue Avenue while attempting to increase his speed to evade officers.

As the chase continued westward, Farmer crashed the Jeep into a snowbank near the Subway at the Zane State/OUZ Campus, exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.

His co-defendant, Harry Gheen, who also was arraigned Wednesday, stayed inside the vehicle and was arrested by officers for personal possession of Methamphetamines.

Farmer was eventually apprehended by officers behind residences along Doaks Lane.

Shilling added that the driver’s choice to not pull over, especially with the ongoing weather conditions, was a dangerous decision.

“The driver definitely put the public at risk,” Shilling said while explaining that the operator ran at least one red light when road conditions were rapidly worsening.

No one was injured in the pursuit and no other vehicles were damaged.

In court Wednesday, Farmer’s attorney, John Rutan, asked Judge Kelley Cottrill to lower his client’s bond to a “more reasonable amount” of $10,000 and would agree to wear a GPS monitor.

According to Rutan, Farmer obtained his GED in 2001 and has a child.

According to Muskingum County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hughes, the bond is appropriate considering his criminal history that includes a previous fleeing and eluding, drug possession, operating a vehicle while impaired, theft and burglary.

Cottrill continued Farmer’s bond at $100,000 cash, property or surety.

A trial date has not yet been set.

It is unclear if Farmer was on post-release control after leaving prison, but if he was, that could require him to return due to his past sentencing arrangements.

For his charge of failure to comply, a felony of the third degree, a consecutive prison term is required and that charge carries a length of 9 to 36 months in prison.

A fine of up to $10,000 may also be imposed.