A man suspected of robbing three businesses and holding a woman against her will in a high speed pursuit is in custody and set to appear in Marietta Municipal Court for an initial appearance today.
Anthony R. Nichols II, 27, of Chesterhill, is facing felony charges in three counties that range from failure to appear to kidnapping and armed robbery.
Nichols was arrested late Friday after a Washington County sheriff's deputy observed him in the passenger seat of a vehicle that pulled into Bartlett Corner Store - the same business Nichols is accused of robbing July 23.
According to Sheriff Larry Mincks, Nichols panicked when the officer approached and placed the driver in a choke hold and threatened to kill her if she didn't drive away.
"He kept her held with his left arm, and using his left foot and his right hand he drove out (Ohio 550) at 70, 80, 90 mph at times," Mincks said. "You could tell there was a struggle going on in the car by his erratic driving. When he got to Sweat Road he was involved in a collision and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit."
Nichols' passenger, Chelsea Romska, 20, of 122 Linwood Ave. Apt. C, was not injured in the struggle or crash. Mincks said she could face charges for harboring Nichols, who has been eluding police for the past month.
"That's still under investigation," Mincks said.
Ironically, Nichols is wanted on a warrant for failure to appear on a felony fleeing and eluding charge. Officers said Nichols was apprehended in that case after he crashed on Sweat Road. The date of that incident was not immediately available.
Nichols also is accused of robbing the Par Mar convenience store in Barlow and another convenience store in Zanesville. All of the robberies occurred in late July or early August. Clerks were placed in choke holds during the Washington County robberies and a knife was used in the commission of the Muskingum County robbery, according to police.
Mincks said Nichols has admitted to the robberies. He said the man was stealing to help feed a crack cocaine addiction.
"He lives in the area and I think he might have crack cocaine sources in the Bartlett area - that's probably one of the reasons he stayed in that area," Mincks said. "I think he was comfortable there and had people he could stay with."
Officers had received numerous tips that Nichols was in the area, but it wasn't until Friday when a surveillance effort paid off, Mincks said.
Nichols is being held without bond pending an initial appearance in court today. He is charged locally with two counts of robbery, kidnapping and fleeing and eluding. Once he faces charges here, he will be transported to Morgan and Muskingum counties to face charges there, Mincks said.
