A woman was arrested following a brief vehicle pursuit in Ross County on Saturday morning, July 27, that ended near the intersection of Blain Highway and Debord Road. The passenger fled on foot and remains at large.
According to a report from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Trenton Morgan attempted to stop a black Kia Forte on U.S. Route 23 around 6:30 a.m. after identifying the driver as Ashley Kutschbach, who was known from previous encounters and confirmed to be driving under a suspended license.
When Deputy Morgan activated his lights near Blain Highway, Kutschbach initially slowed and turned on her hazard lights but failed to stop. Instead, she continued southbound at speeds up to 45 mph, bypassing multiple safe opportunities to pull over — including the entrance to Izzy’s gas station — before finally stopping nearly a mile later.
As the vehicle came to a halt near the woodline off Blain Highway, a male passenger jumped out and fled into a nearby wooded area. Deputy Morgan pursued the man on foot, noting that he was carrying a satchel and frequently looked back while running. The pursuit ended near a creek bed where the suspect disappeared from view. Despite setting up a perimeter and conducting a search with additional deputies, the man was not located.
Kutschbach was taken into custody and transported to the Ross County Jail. She was charged with Failure to Comply with an Officer and cited for Driving Under Suspension. During questioning, she claimed she intended to stop at the gas station but alleged her passenger grabbed the wheel. However, Deputy Morgan disputed that version, stating there was no visible attempt to pull into the station or indication of erratic steering.
Authorities are seeking a warrant for the male passenger, whom Kutschbach identified as a known drug trafficker in the Huntington Hills area. He is expected to face a charge of Obstructing Official Business.
The vehicle was towed from the scene by BB Towing, and an inventory was conducted.
The investigation remains ongoing.
