A Grove City man is facing felony charges after leading authorities on a multi-county pursuit which began early Friday afternoon in Fayette County.
Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth’s Office reports that on Friday, March 24th, shortly before 12:30 p.m., a report was made of a Silver Chevy Suburban was northbound on US 62 from Highland County. The caller reported at least one of the subjects had a warrant for their arrest out of Highland County.
Subsequently, a Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy observed the vehicle on US 62 in the area of Rowe Ging Road. While attempting to catch up with the vehicle he lost sight of it in traffic but later re-located the vehicle parked on the lot of Anchor Baptist Church, located at 456 Jamison Road. The deputy made contact with the vehicle’s two occupants, who were identified as Deanna M. Purcell-Rutter, 29, and Cory Rutter, 41, both of Grove City.
The deputy checked the warrant status of both subjects and when Cory Rutter learned he had a warrant for his arrest out f Franklin County on a charge of robbery, he pulled the vehicle away from the scene, nearly striking the deputy and a sheriff’s sergeant who’d just arrived. Rutter’s Chevy reached speeds over 100 miles per hour along Jamison Road, Old US 35, and State Route 435 during the flee attempt, and even collided with a sheriff’s cruiser at the intersection of State Route 435 and Interstate 71.
Rutter continued west along State Route 435 to the Greene County Line where it crossed the median, going eastbound on State Route 435 and then northbound along Interstate 71 crossing through Madison and Pickaway counties, and then into Franklin County. That's where deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined the pursuit.
Rutter’s vehicle exited Interstate 71 at Greenlawn Avenue and then made its way along surface streets in south Columbus. The chase came to and end when a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy used their cruiser to disable the Chevy. Cory Rutter was then taken into custody.
Rutter has been charged with first-degree felonious assault on a law enforcement officer and third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a peace officer. Cory Cutter is currently housed in the Fayette County Jail, pending a bond hearing. Additional charges against Rutter are pending further investigation.
Deanna Purcell-Rutter was also placed into custody once the car was stopped, but a follow up investigation revealed she was not an active participant in Cory Rutter’s actions and was subsequently released.