CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A routine traffic stop early Wednesday morning escalated into a foot chase and two arrests after a passenger fled from a moving vehicle on Jefferson Avenue, according to Chillicothe Police.
An officer on patrol reported spotting a white Hyundai traveling north on Douglas Avenue around 4 a.m. with no illumination on its rear license plate. After following the vehicle and initiating a stop on Jefferson Avenue, the car continued to roll forward for roughly 100 feet before the front-seat passenger jumped out and ran westbound toward an alley.
The officer pursued the man on foot, giving repeated commands to stop. He was apprehended shortly afterward and identified as Robert De Los Santos, who police say had an active Ross County bench warrant for tampering, illegal conveyance, and aggravated possession of drugs.
A search of De Los Santos reportedly turned up a quantity of pills he stated were Gabapentin. Officers later retraced the path of his flight and recovered his cell phone along with a blue bag containing multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia. De Los Santos allegedly admitted to being a drug user.
Meanwhile, Officer Blankenship contacted the driver, identified as Frederick Watson II, who gave consent for police to search the vehicle. Officers say they found a digital scale with white powder residue inside Watson’s bag.
Both men were taken into custody and transported to the Ross County Jail.
• Robert De Los Santos was booked on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, obstructing official business, and the outstanding warrant.
• Frederick Watson II was booked on possession of drug paraphernalia and cited for failure to reinstate his license.
All recovered paraphernalia was photographed and collected as evidence. The pills were secured and marked for destruction.
