MARION—The Marion Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop around 2 AM this morning that ended with a dead police officer and one fugitive on the run.

In a press conference held by OSHP Sergeant Bruce Nihiser, it was revealed that 41-year-old Dominic Francis was struck by the fleeing vehicle while attempting to deploy stop sticks on the southbound I-75 exit on the east side of Bluffton.

The pursuit first began when Ohio State troopers in Marion spotted a Black Infinity Sedan traveling at high speeds on SR 23. Law enforcement officers from OSHP, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and Bluffton Police joined the chase around 2:20 AM.

Officer Francis was hit by the vehicle while attempting to deploy stop-sticks on Exit 142 on southbound I-75 at 2:30 AM.

The infinity continued a distance after striking Officer Francis and was later abandoned. The three suspects then fled on foot to a residence, where they stole a Toyota Prius. One suspect was apprehended near the residence. The stolen Prius was successfully stopped near Medina, and the suspect driving the stolen car was arrested.

A third suspect, described as a thin-built black man wearing black sweats and a gray sweatshirt, is still at large.

According to Chief Ryan Burkholder, Francis coached softball and football at Cory-Rawson Schools.

“Today is a sad day. This community lost a hero,” Burkholder said. “He is an outstanding police officer. His heart was big,” Burkholder said.

Francis had been with the Bluffton Police Department for nine years but in law enforcement for the past 19 years. He was a beloved teacher, bus driver, and coach at Cory-Rawson Schools. Officer Francis leaves behind a wife and son. The last time a Bluffton Police Officer was killed in the line of duty was over 100 years ago.

Sergeant Nihiser says every law enforcement agency in the area is focusing on capturing the remaining suspect. Law enforcement is employing every tool available to capture the remaining suspect.

While Nihser did not release the names of the two suspects in custody, he encouraged anyone who sees a suspect that is of a thin build in black sweat pants and a grey sweatshirt to contact the Findlay Post of the OSHP at 419-423-1415.