WALTON, Ky. (WXIX) – A man accused of abducting his 2-month-old child led authorities on a multi-state chase that ended in a crash involving a police cruiser and a church in Northern Kentucky, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
The infant, the suspect, and a sheriff’s sergeant were all taken to hospitals and are expected to be OK, said Major Philip Ridgell.
Authorities identified the suspect as Brenton L. Howland, 20, of Xenia, Ohio. Officials said he took the baby during a domestic violence incident in Greene County on Tuesday night, according to Sheriff Scott Anger.
“We were about to issue an Amber Alert when we received help from Kentucky State Police tracking him over there,” Anger told FOX19 NOW.
Boone County deputies located Howland at a Speedway gas station on Mt. Zion Road around 7:07 p.m.
He fled, prompting a high-speed chase into Kenton County, according to Major Ridgell.
Deputies eventually ended the pursuit after losing sight of the vehicle due to reckless driving and excessive speeds.
Authorities later spotted the vehicle again in Walton around 7:45 p.m., but Howland fled once more.
During the second pursuit, investigators said he sideswiped a Boone County sergeant’s cruiser, causing a crash involving a Jeep, before his vehicle slammed into the side of Walton United Methodist Church.
Howland was quickly taken into custody and transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
First responders found the baby secured in a car seat and transported the infant to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Officials said the child was not injured and has since been reunited with the mother.
Sgt. Jeff Nagy was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood for treatment. He has since been released and is recovering at home, Ridgell said.
Howland now faces multiple charges in Boone County, with additional charges possible in Kenton County, Kentucky, and Greene County, Ohio.
In Boone County, he is charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, reckless driving, first-degree fleeing or evading police, disregarding a traffic control device, and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Authorities in Greene County are also preparing charges, which may include kidnapping, abduction, child endangerment, and domestic violence.
“We are just very happy with the outcome,” Anger said. “We’re really appreciative of all the efforts put in by seven different law enforcement agencies and great teamwork to make sure we got the 2-month-old back safely.
“That’s the number one thing we were worried about. We are very happy the deputy whose cruiser was involved in the crash is not seriously injured.”
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