BLUFFTON—A Hancock County Grand Jury has indicted three men on charges after they killed a Bluffton police officer while they were fleeing police.
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 Dominic Francis was hit by the vehicle while attempting to deploy stop-sticks on Exit 142 on southbound I-75 at 2:30 AM. He later succumbed to his injuries.
The three suspects were eventually captured. Emin Johnson, 20, incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center; Zachary Love, 21, incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center; Dante Tate, 19, incarcerated at the Medina County Jail.
The three suspects are now indicted. Emin Johnson was charged with multiple felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, receiving stolen property, failure to comply, possessing criminal tools, tampering with evidence, failure to stop after an accident, improper handling of a firearm, and having a weapon under disability.
Zachary Love was indicted for receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, having a weapon under disability, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property.
Dante Tate was indicted for complicity to receiving stolen property, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property.
Crawford County Now will continue to follow this developing story.