Traffic chase through Barberton prompts drug charges

By BOB MOREHEAD

BGNN senior staff writer

It’s getting almost common as the year wanes.

A police chase started somewhere else passed through Barberton.

Akron Police tried to pull over a pickup truck a little before 1 p.m. Dec. 6. Instead of pulling over, police say the driver intentionally hit a cruiser as he fled. 

The chase passed briefly through the North End of Barberton down Summit Street and Wooster Road N, exiting back into Akron. Barberton Police kept track of the truck while it was in their jurisdiction.

Akron eventually broke off the chase, citing the danger of the driver’s reckless operation. The truck crashed in Akron at the intersection of Moon Street and Easter Avenue and the two men in it fled on foot.

Jason Brian Harris, 34, of Akron, was the driver.

Police allegedly found 6.13 grams of methamphetamine, 13 oxycodone pills, a digital scale, six alrazolam pills, an ecstasy tablet and a $100 with white residue on him when they caught him, along with $6,310 in cash.

The passenger was Titus Lenoir, 18, of Akron.

Police say he shed his coat when he tried to run and they had to pull him off a fence when they caught him and he continued to fight until handcuffed. He reportedly had .2 grams of meth in his coat and a broken meth pipe in his bag.

The pair was charged with trafficking in drugs, failure to comply, felony drug possession, paraphernalia, resisting arrest and obstructing official business. They were taken to the Summit County Jail.