BEREA, Ohio – Two unidentified drivers, one in a stolen pickup truck, led Berea police on a high-speed chase into Cleveland at about 5 a.m. July 15.

Police on patrol noticed a suspicious sport-utility vehicle with its headlights on stopped in the street on Holly Drive. At the same time, the pickup truck, with its headlights off, backed out of a Holly driveway.

Both the SUV and truck drove away. Police followed the vehicles onto Nobottom Road. It seemed that the truck was speeding. The SUV and truck then stopped next to each other. Police, based on their experience of past crime scenes, now suspected that the truck had been stolen from the Holly driveway.

Police activated their overhead lights. The SUV and truck sped away toward Lewis Road. The vehicles, with police in pursuit, reached speeds of about 75 mph and weaved all over the road. They turned onto Barrett Road, Spafford Road, Aerospace Parkway, I-X Center Drive and northbound Ohio 237.

Both vehicles were traveling up to 80 mph, running stop signs and swerving off the road. The truck nearly crashed several times while trying to negotiate turns.

Police observed at least three people in the SUV and only the driver in the truck. They reported to dispatchers the license-plate number of the truck. The SUV and truck reached speeds of 90 mph on 237. Police believed they saw someone throw objects from one of the vehicles.

The SUV and pickup exited onto Interstate 71 northbound, accelerating to 100 mph. The vehicles then took Interstate 90 eastbound. The Ohio State Highway Patrol joined the chase.

Police lost sight of the SUV. They believed it had exited the freeway at some point. They followed the truck as it exited onto East 140th Street, where it turned onto South Waterloo Road, traveling at about 80 mph. Police lost the truck after it turned onto East 185th Street.

Police found the truck parked on the sidewalk and against a building on St. Clair Avenue. They jumped out of their cruisers with their weapons drawn and ordered the driver out of the truck. However, the truck was empty.

Police visited the house on Holly, where the truck had been stolen. Another parked vehicle that had blocked the truck in the driveway was damaged. Tire tracks were on the lawn. A downspout from a gutter had been torn from the house.

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