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Cincinnati man charged with aggravated robbery, other counts after multi-county pursuit beginning in Lucasville

By
Scioto County Sheriff's Office, Press Release

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that on Friday, Jan. 5, the 9-1-1 communication center received a call at 1:12 p.m. from a residence on Houston Hollow Road. 

The resident stated that two males allegedly attempted to break into their home, and after the resident confronted them, they took off on foot. A deputy responded, began the investigation and patrolled the area looking for the suspects.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that the 9-1-1 communication center received a call at 2:32 p.m. from a male victim stating that he was pulled off on the side of the Vern Riffe Drive in Lucasvville, which is thee road leading to the Scioto County Career Technical Center (SCCTC).

The caller advised that he was sitting in his locked truck when an African American male, approximately 5 foot 10 inches, approached his passenger side window. The caller alleged that the male was brandishing a firearm, pecking on the window, telling him to get out of the truck. 

The caller advised that when he did not exit his truck, the suspect allegedly shot through the passenger window, almost striking him in the face with the bullet. The victim advised that he then exited his truck, and the suspect allegedly took the truck and headed toward the school.

The school resource deputy assigned to the SCCTC, Deputy Logan Shuff, reportedly heard the gunshot and observed the truck with a shattered window quickly drive around the guard shack at the entry to the school parking lot. The truck headed back toward Houston Hollow Road as Deputy Shuff attempted to stop the vehicle, using his emergency lights and siren. The suspect allegedly refused to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that the suspect headed south on U.S. 23 as other deputies and detectives responded to assist, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The suspect allegedly side-swiped a semi-truck near Houston Hollow Road and U.S. 23. As the suspect was fleeing south on U.S. 23, he allegedly threw items from the truck at the pursing deputies. The suspect later allegedly advised that he did this in an attempt to cause the deputies to wreck, so that he could get away.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol set up stop sticks on U.S. 23; however, the suspect was able to avoid them. The suspect continued south toward Portsmouth, allegedly traveling at approximately 120 mph. The Portsmouth Police Department was contacted and asked to set up stop sticks on Scioto Trail, as well as assisting in clearing intersections for safety.

The suspect turned west onto U.S. 52, allegedly reaching speeds of approximately 140 mph. As the suspect continued westbound on U.S. 52, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for assistance, asking for stop sticks to be set up. 

As the suspect was allegedly fleeing, heading into Manchester, he wrecked into a ditch, damaging the truck. The suspect was able to reenter the roadway, continuing westbound.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office were able to set up stop sticks at mile marker 14, outside of Manchester. The suspect was able to avoid those stop sticks; however, in doing so, he crashed into a guardrail at 3:08 p.m. The suspect allegedly refused to exit the truck when law enforcement ordered him to.

The suspect allegedly resisted, struggling with law enforcement, allegedly attempting to grab for the firearm that he had in the truck. The suspect was removed from the truck through the driver’s door window. The suspect continued struggling with law enforcement and allegedly attempted to bite a deputy’s hand twice. The suspect was taken by Adams County Emergency Medical Squad to Southern Ohio Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Arrested was Christopher Lorenzo Peake Sr., 40, of Cincinnati. Peake has been charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, repeat violent  specification, violent career criminal specification and a school safety zone specification, a felony of the first degree; felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, a felony of the fourth degree; resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, a felony of the fourth degree; attempted burglary, a felony of the second degree; assault of a police officer, a felony of the first degree; having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree; operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, a misdemeanor; reckless operation, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; and a parole holder out of Kentucky. 

Thoroughman stated that this is an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented at the Scioto County grand jury on a later date. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.

Sheriff Thoroughman would like to thank the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Portsmouth Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Winchester Police Department for their assistance with this multi-county pursuit involving an armed and dangerous individual.