UPDATE: Police Chase Spans Three States, Twice

Bernard Russell

Boone County Jail

The scene where Thursday afternoon's high speed chase on I-275 ended near the Mineola Pike exit in Boone County. photo submitted by Jessica Mistishin

Update posted at 7:09 a.m. Friday, February 10:

Police have identified the man who led officers on a chase in excess of 130 MPH through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.

In custody is Bernard Russell, 47, of Michigan.

The thrilling pursuit began when two Florence banks were robbed Thursday afternoon. Huntington Bank at 287 Richwood Road was held up at about 4:00. Just minutes later the Central Bank on Turfway Road was robbed.

Witnesses to each robbery described a black man, about 6’3” tall wearing black and driving a white Nissan Maxima as he got away.

Officers spotted the getaway vehicle soon after the second robbery on Interstate 275. That’s when the pursuit began.

Russell fled at high speeds into Indiana, then Ohio. He merged onto I-74 in Whitewater Township when he soon reversed going back the opposite direction towards Kentucky.

He surrendered to police after wrecking in the median on I-275 near Mineola Pike in Boone County. The chase had lasted nearly 45 minutes.

Traffic on I-275 was stopped as police tracked down cash which had blown out of the car when it wrecked. The interstate reopened at about 5:30 p.m.

Florence Police detectives said the car Russell was driving was stolen from Illinois and had a license plate which was stolen from a vehicle in Florence earlier Thursday.

Russell is currently held in the Boone County Jail pending his initial hearing. He is charged with Robbery 1st Degree, Fleeing or Evading Police 1st Degree, Criminal Mischief 1st Degree, Receiving Stolen Property of $10,000 or More, Receiving Stolen Property Under $10,000, and Wanton Endangerment 1st Degree.

Original story posted at 5:42 p.m. Thursday, February 9:

(Hebron, Ky.) - A high speed police chase began in Kentucky, crossed through Indiana into Ohio, then back again Thursday afternoon.

The incident reportedly began with two bank robberies earlier in the afternoon in Richwood and Florence. Police spotted the suspect's vehicle - a white Nissan Maxima - on Interstate 275 in Boone County around 4:15 and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

The suspect took off at speeds exceeding 100 MPH. The vehicle led police across the Ohio River into Indiana, then continuing eastbound into Ohio. Once on I-74 in Hamilton County, the suspect exited and reversed his direction westbound on I-74 back towards Indiana.

Police were reportedly able to deploy stop sticks and puncture the fleeing vehicle's tires as he crossed back past the Lawrenceburg/Greendale exit in Indiana.

The chase still continued into Boone County where the suspect drove into the median and stopped near the Mineola Pike exit. He surrendured to police there at about 4:45.

Police have not yet identified the suspect.

Traffic on I-275 near the scene of the chase's end remains slow to traffic.