CIRCLEVILLE, OH — A chaotic late-night pursuit of an overloaded mini-bike ended with a crashed vehicle, an OVI arrest, and a twist that saw a third suspect walk into the police station to “claim the driver’s seat” the following morning.
The incident began around 3:43 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, when Circleville Police Officer Tyler Hopkins spotted a dark-colored mini-bike—carrying three people and operating without any lights—traveling on East Main Street.
Sidewalk Chase and Foot Pursuit
When officers attempted a traffic stop, the mini-bike driver refused to pull over, instead hopping onto the sidewalk to evade cruisers. The pursuit continued through alleys and side streets until a supervisor ordered officers to terminate the chase for safety reasons as the bike sped into a dead-end area on East Franklin Street.
The suspects didn’t get far. Officers soon spotted two males, identified as Travis Thompson and 17-year-old Hunter Reedy, walking on Eva Drive with muddied clothing. Nearby, Sgt. Fox discovered the mini-bike abandoned and crashed.
A “Confession” and a 0.160 BAC
On the scene, Thompson reportedly told officers, “I know I’m guilty and I f***ed up,” admitting he had been driving the bike. Officer Hopkins noted a strong odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and dilated pupils.
After struggling through several Field Sobriety Tests—including a failed attempt to recite the alphabet—Thompson provided a preliminary breath sample of .160, exactly double Ohio’s legal limit. He also admitted to smoking marijuana an hour prior. Thompson was arrested and charged with OVI, failure to comply, and underage consumption.
The Plot Twist: The Real Driver Steps Forward
While Thompson was being processed, the third passenger remained a mystery until later that morning. At approximately 11:39 a.m., Ryan Queen walked into the Circleville Police Department lobby to turn himself in.
In a surprising turn, Queen informed Sgt. Ryan Mays that he was actually the one driving the mini-bike during the chase, not Thompson. Queen claimed Thompson was simply “covering for him” because Queen was scared and had been encouraged by his friends to run from the police.
New Charges Filed
Based on the voluntary confession and further investigation, police have filed new charges against Queen for Obstructing Official Business and Failure to Comply with the Order or Signal of a Police Officer. The 17-year-old passenger, Hunter Reedy, was released to his mother’s custody and was not charged. Thompson remained facing OVI and reckless operation charges, though the “Failure to Comply” aspect of his arrest may be affected by Queen’s confession.
