PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — A driver involved in a high-speed chase through Pickaway County last year has now been sentenced following a court ruling in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court.
Tammy Bartoe was found guilty of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and was sentenced to 18 months in prison with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). She also received a 10-year driver’s license suspension. The sentence was handed down by Judge Matthew Chafin.
The conviction stems from an incident on April 14, 2025, when a routine traffic stop escalated into a high-speed pursuit.
According to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy first spotted a 2004 light blue Honda Odyssey around 5:30 p.m. on U.S. 23 near Circleville. The vehicle reportedly had visible damage, including a broken windshield and a shattered rear passenger window.
When the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle near the Sheetz on South Court Street, the driver initially slowed before accelerating away from law enforcement. Authorities say the van ran a stop sign, drove into oncoming lanes, and nearly struck several vehicles as it fled.
The chase continued onto U.S. 23 northbound, where the driver reportedly swerved off the roadway at times in an attempt to evade deputies. Speeds during the pursuit exceeded 100 miles per hour.
The pursuit came to an end when the vehicle lost a rear tire near Little Walnut Road, forcing it to slow down. Deputies, assisted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, were able to box in the vehicle near South Bloomfield and bring the chase to a stop.
Bartoe was taken into custody at the scene after deputies determined she had multiple active warrants.
A passenger, Jeremy Mullins, was also arrested on outstanding warrants and transported to the Pickaway County Jail.
The registered owner of the vehicle, Leslie Mullins, was in the front passenger seat at the time and told deputies he was not involved in the attempt to flee. The Honda Odyssey was later impounded by authorities.
With the court’s recent ruling, Bartoe will now serve her 18-month prison sentence and will be prohibited from driving for the next decade as part of the court’s penalty.
