CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A multi-agency manhunt is underway for a Columbus-area man who faces severe felony charges after allegedly using his father’s identity, striking a deputy with his car, and dragging a sheriff’s sergeant across a local supermarket parking lot.
Daniel Allen Robinette, 34, is wanted on multiple charges, including two counts of felonious assault, after fleeing from a traffic stop late Friday night in Circleville.
A Stolen Vehicle Call and False Identity
The violent encounter unfolded around 11:24 p.m. when Pickaway County Sheriff’s Deputy Little and Sergeant McIntyre responded to a call regarding a suspected stolen vehicle in the parking lot shared by Walmart and KFC on US-23.
Upon arrival, deputies located the target vehicle—a red 2012 Chevy Cruze bearing an Ohio temporary tag. Sgt. McIntyre approached the driver’s side, which was empty, while Dep. Little interviewed an adult male sitting in the front passenger seat who was playing a game on his phone. The male provided deputies with the name, date of birth, and social security number of Thomas A. Sturgill.
While Dep. Little ran the information, Sgt. McIntyre noticed a woman standing near the KFC and walked over to speak with her. The woman identified herself as Jennifer E. Robinette and revealed that the man in the car was actually her ex-husband, Daniel Allen Robinette. She warned the sergeant that Robinette routinely uses his father’s personal information to evade law enforcement.
Deputy Dragged, Second Struck as Suspect Flees
Sgt. McIntyre stepped away to request a photo of Robinette from dispatch to verify his identity. While waiting with his phones in hand, Dep. Little suddenly shouted a warning.
Sgt. McIntyre looked up to see the red Chevy Cruze in motion as Robinette lunged from the passenger side into the driver’s seat. In a desperate bid to stop the vehicle, Sgt. McIntyre leaned deep inside the cabin, grabbing Robinette’s left arm and attempting to jam the gear shifter into park.
Robinette slammed on the gas, accelerating rapidly. Sgt. McIntyre was dragged roughly 30 feet before losing his grip and falling violently out of the moving vehicle, striking his head directly on the asphalt.
As Robinette sped eastbound through the parking lot toward Pickaway Street, the vehicle also struck Dep. Little on his left arm.
WANTED SUSPECT: Daniel Allen Robinette
VEHICLE: Red 2012 Chevy Cruze
OHIO TEMP TAG: V539786
CHARGES: Felonious Assault (2 Counts), Failure to Comply, Obstructing Justice
High-Speed Escape and Child Pickup
Despite suffering a severe, heavily bleeding head wound, Sgt. McIntyre managed to scramble back to his cruiser to attempt a pursuit, but Robinette had already vanished into the night.
A digital tracking effort quickly began after Sgt. McIntyre realized his personal cell phone had fallen inside or near the suspect’s vehicle during the struggle. Using a GPS location feature from his work phone, deputies tracked and recovered the personal cell phone at 12:41 a.m., where it had been tossed onto the east side of Eva Drive.
The investigation took an urgent turn when Circleville Police officers discovered that just after midnight, Robinette’s ex-wife received a call indicating that Robinette had abruptly arrived at his parents’ residence on E. Union Street. According to family members, Robinette picked up his shared 12-year-old daughter, Madison, and fled the area before police could converge on the home.
Condition of the Deputies
Sgt. McIntyre was transported to the Berger Hospital Emergency Room, where he was treated for a severe laceration and contusion to the back of his head. Dep. Little sustained a significant contusion to his left forearm from being struck by the vehicle but did not require immediate emergency hospitalization.
Warrants have been formally filed against Robinette for two counts of Felonious Assault, Failure to Comply with the Order or Signal of a Peace Officer, and Obstructing Justice.
Anyone with information regarding the location of Daniel Allen Robinette or the red Chevy Cruze is urged to contact the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
