Abduction Suspect Arrested After High-Speed Chase

The chase resulted in a three-vehicle crash.

Shutterstock photo.

(Boone County, Ky.) - On Tuesday, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, along with other northern Kentucky law enforcement agencies, was alerted to a child abduction out of Greene County, Ohio. 

The suspect and child were reported to be in Boone County and deputies soon received the suspect’s precise location from information obtained out of Ohio. Deputies located the suspect vehicle, operated by suspect Brenton L. Howland, 20, of Xenia, Ohio, at a Speedway gas station on Mt. Zion Road.

Howland fled in the vehicle, and a high-speed pursuit ensued, continuing into Kenton County. Deputies ultimately terminated the pursuit after losing sight of Howland due to his reckless driving and excessive speeds.

At approximately 7:45 PM, officers with the Kenton County Police Department and the Independence Police Department located Howland’s vehicle in Walton on North Main Street (US-25). Howland again fled at a high rate of speed, traveling south on Main Street.

At this time, a pursuing officer was traveling north on Main Street with emergency lights activated. As the cruisier attempted to pass a Jeep Wrangler, Howland sideswiped the marked cruiser, causing the vehicle to strike the Jeep. 

Howland ultimately crashed into the side of the Walton United Methodist Church. He was quickly apprehended and transported to the UC Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. A two (2) month old child was removed from a child safety seat secured in the back seat and transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. It was later learned that the child did not sustain any injuries and has since been reunified with the mother.

The occupants of the Jeep Wrangler were evaluated on scene but declined transport to the hospital.

The officer involved was transported to St. Elizabeth in Edgewood for treatment. He was injured but has since been released from the hospital and is resting at home.

Howland is charged in Boone County with three (3) counts of Wanton Endangerment 1st Degree and one (1) count each of Reckless Driving, Fleeing or Evading Police 1st Degree, Disregarding a Traffic Control Device, and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.

Howland faces additional charges brought by law enforcement in Kenton County as well as Greene County, Ohio.