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High speed pursuit ends with crash, arrest

Photos courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Kevin R. Morgan is considered armed and dangerous and local law enforcement are actively searching for the 44-year-old man in the New Matamoras area. (Photo Provided)

A West Virginia man was apprehended Friday evening through the joint efforts of local law enforcement and community outlook.

Kevin R. Morgan, 44, whose last known address was 133 Miller St., Paden City, was apprehended by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and tips from local residents.

Morgan was initially identified through active driving under the influence and fleeing warrants from New Martinsville, W.Va., according to Washington County Sheriff’s Maj. Troy Hawkins.

“We got information that he was in the New Matamoras area around noon and our officers first made contact and pursued around 2:45 p.m.,” said Hawkins.

The vehicular pursuit, Hawkins said, led out of New Matamoras, north on Ohio 260 before Morgan allegedly ditched his motor transport–a gold Honda Accord.

According to the affidavit of facts submitted by responding officers Marietta Det. Dustin Young and WSCO Sgt. Eric Augenstein (both agents of the joint Major Crimes Task Force) the pursuit began at 1400 Park Ave., in New Matamoras.

The pair reported that they first attempted to conduct a traffic stop in order to arrest Morgan.

“Upon observing officers, Kevin placed the vehicle in reverse and drove off road until he reached Williamson Avenue where he began traveling Northbound,” states the affidavit. “Sgt. Augenstein reported he observed Kevin run several stop signs at a high rate of speed through the residential neighborhood before reaching State Route 7, where Kevin turned northbound. Sgt. Augenstein reported Kevin was traveling at speeds in excess of 80 mph.”

Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said Friday evening that the pursuit of Morgan resulted in an off-the-road crash in which the affidavit notes the vehicle was located off of Pryor Glass Road near the intersection of Old Camp Road.

After Morgan allegedly left the incapacitated vehicle officers were dispatched to search for him on foot Friday afternoon, Hawkins said.

At 6:19 p.m. Hawkins asked local media outlets, including The Marietta Times, to serve as immediate public outreach and caution throughout the search in Grandview Township.

“We have officers out searching for him now,” said Hawkins at that time. “Including one K-9 unit and with Monroe County (Sheriff’s Office) and Ohio State Highway Patrol assisting in our search.”

Hawkins cautioned the public to not approach Morgan, noting his West Virginia warrants considered the 44-year-old armed and dangerous.

By 8:30 p.m. Morgan was apprehended by local law enforcement.

“He was found about two miles from where he crashed his car off of Halls Road,” said Mincks. “He is in custody and facing several felony charges.”

Kevin Morgan was arrested for being a fugitive from justice under Ohio Revised Code 2963.11 and failure to comply under ORC 2921.331B.

His reported passenger, Cynthia Loy, 45, of 705 North Seventh Ave., Paden City, was also arrested for obstructing official business under ORC 2921.31.

Her arrest charge submitted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to Marietta Municipal Court alleges that Loy “concealed herself at an emergency scene for an extended amount of time delaying the apprehension of a felon.”

Mincks said he anticipates a request for extradition to West Virginia in the coming days.

Janelle Patterson can be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

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