A 24-year-old Maple Heights man was in Akron Municipal Court on Friday on charges related to a high-speed chase Thursday on Interstate 77.
Michael Hodge, 24, is charged with fleeing and eluding, felonious assault on a police officer, obstructing official business, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of a schedule II substance and drug trafficking. Authorities said he hit two cruisers during the chase that started in Akron.
Hodge remains in the Summit County Jail on a $100,000, 10 percent bond, or $10,800 cash. He is scheduled for another court appearance Feb. 14.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the chase started in Akron when troopers saw the car swerving. Hodge was traveling north on I-77 near I-277 in Akron.
Troopers tried to stop the 2017 Hyundai driven by Hodge, but when he got to I-77 near White Pond Drive, the driver hit a state trooper’s vehicle, authorities said.
The chase continued through Copley and Bath townships where another trooper’s vehicle was struck north of Ghent Road.
When an officer tried to stop him with a spike strip on Interstate 77, Hodge drove across the median, which was covered in snow, to avoid the strip.
He eventually went back to the correct side of the highway and continued to flee police, troopers said.
“The suspect intentionally struck two cruisers, disabling them both,” Sgt. Neil Laughlin of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. “Another cruiser made an intentional contact with Hodge’s car from the rear causing it to crash. The chase ended on Brecksville Road in Richfield. The suspect then jumped out on foot and ran. He ran into a wooded area where a lengthy foot chase took place and he was eventually apprehended on foot.”
Authorities said Hodge threw ammunition from the car for a .40-caliber handgun and a rifle during the chase. The ammunition was was recovered from the road.
“No weapons were located on the suspect or inside the vehicle,” Laughlin said. “We did find crack cocaine, heroin, narcotic pills and digital scales on his person.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com or Follow her on Twitter@MarilynMillerBJ.