CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A routine police encounter outside the Chillicothe Public Library escalated into a low-speed pursuit and an accidental collision with a police cruiser early Wednesday morning, resulting in the arrest of a wanted man.
Christopher Shawn Nichols, 43, was booked into the Ross County Jail after attempting to evade authorities on a bicycle. He faces charges of obstructing official business and resisting arrest, in addition to being served with an active Adult Parole Authority (APA) warrant.
False Identities Trigger Suspicion
The incident began at 12:53 a.m. on June 3, 2026, when Chillicothe Police Officer Justin Tuttle initiated a consensual encounter with three men standing near the front entrance of the public library at 550 Buckeye Street. While Officer Tuttle successfully identified two of the men, the third individual—later identified as Nichols—began providing false identifying details.
According to police reports, Nichols initially provided a Social Security number that belonged to someone else. When questioned about the error, he claimed his name was “Eric Valentine” with a birthdate in November 1982. Dispatchers informed the officer that no such record existed.
After Nichols handed over a second false Social Security number, he suddenly launched his bicycle southbound toward the rear of the library, completely ignoring multiple loud verbal commands to stop.
Neighborhood Pursuit and Cruiser Impact
Officer Tuttle pursued the fleeing cyclist in his marked patrol vehicle with lights and sirens activated. Nichols led the officer through residential yards on Safford Avenue before turning eastbound onto Buckeye Street toward High Street.
Hearing the radio traffic and recognizing that the suspect was actively deceiving dispatchers, Sergeant Brock Yoder rushed to the area to intercept the chase.
As Nichols neared the intersection of High and Buckeye streets, he entered a dead-end driveway and attempted to cut back across the roadway. Sergeant Yoder positioned his cruiser to block the escape path. Nichols swerved directly in front of the moving police vehicle, causing the front bumper of the cruiser to strike the rear tire of the bicycle at a very low speed.
Arrest and Jail Booking
The low-speed impact caused Nichols to lose control and fall from the bicycle. As officers moved in to handcuff him, Nichols resisted by pinning his left arm tightly underneath his body. Sergeant Yoder assisted Officer Tuttle in forcing the suspect’s arm free to secure the handcuffs.
Once detained, Nichols dropped the aliases, confessed his actual name, and admitted he fled solely because he knew he had an active APA warrant.
Nichols sustained minor abrasions from the fall but declined medical attention. Sergeant Yoder’s cruiser sustained only minor rubber transfer and a scuff mark on the front bumper, while the bicycle remained undamaged.
Nichols was transported to the Ross County Jail, where he was left in the custody of jail staff ahead of his scheduled morning court appearance. His bicycle was impounded and placed into police storage.
