Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Crooksville Man Gets Prison Time for Hit-Skip Accident, Police Chase
A Crooksville man received prison time for leading law enforcement on a chase through two counties after hitting another motorist.
Bruce E. Brannon, age 68, of Crooksville, appeared on June 3 before Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill for sentencing. Judge Cottrill sentenced Brannon to a total of two and half years in prison, as well as the forfeiture of the vehicle he used in the crime. Brannon was charged with felony failure to comply with an order of a police officer and misdemeanor operating a vehicle impaired.
On February 22, Brannon struck another driver who was stopped at an intersection but drove away after the collision. Law enforcement authorities caught up to Brannon at a traffic light, but he sped off and led police on a 23-mile chase into Coshocton County. The pursuit involved cruisers from the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Frazeysburg Police Department.
During the police chase, Brannon veered into oncoming traffic, ran stop lights, and exceeded posted speed limits. Brannon also travelled about 12 miles on a disabled front tire, after driving over pursuit-termination devices known as “stop sticks” deployed by law enforcement to safely end the chase.
Upon his apprehension, law enforcement noted that Brannon smelled like alcohol. He admitted to officers that he had been drinking, and empty beer cans were found in his vehicle.
Brannon also admitted to authorities that he had seen the emergency lights on the pursuing vehicles but did not pull over because he was heading somewhere to have his phone fixed.
Muskingum County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson says it’s fortunate that Brannon’s dangerous actions on the road did not result in any loss of life.
“Luckily, this dangerous pursuit did not result in injury or death,” Anderson said. “We appreciate the combined efforts of multiple agencies of law enforcement in keeping our streets and communities safe. Hopefully the prison sentence Judge Cottrill imposed will deter other motorists from escalating minor traffic-related offenses into something more serious.”
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