COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing a truck with a 15-year-old sleeping inside last week and crashing into a sheriff's cruiser.
Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies were called just before 1 p.m. on July 13 on a report of a Toyota Tundra being stolen from TravelCenters of America on the state Route 435 and Interstate 71 interchange.
The caller stated that his 15-year-old child was asleep inside the truck at the time it was stolen. As deputies were responding, a second 911 call was made from the teen girl inside the truck.
She was heard in the call asking the suspect to let her go, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies attempted to locate the vehicle based on landmarks from the teen, and then at 1 p.m., the teen said the suspect stopped the truck and she was able to get out but was unaware of the location.
The teen girl was found safe a short time later on Palmer Road, approximately eight miles from where the truck was stolen.
The suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Anthony Rucker, reportedly continued driving the truck north of Palmer Road after the teen got out and headed toward the village of Milledgeville.
A deputy located the truck on state Route 729 and tried to stop it, but Rucker allegedly continued driving across state Route 435. The truck and the deputy’s cruiser collided a short time later near a roundabout. Rucker was then taken into custody.
Both Rucker and the deputy involved sustained minor injuries and were taken to Adena Fayette Medical Center where they were treated and released. Rucker was taken to the Fayette County Jail.
Rucker is charged with felonious assault, possession of drugs, theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding and kidnapping. He also has active warrants for his arrest in Clermont and Highland counties, the sheriff’s office says.
The crash remains under investigation.
