Ohio Suspect Arrested After Returning for Hat

Police in Lake County say they arrested a suspect when he returned to the crime scene to retrieve his hat.

An 18-year-old old eluded police in Lake County, Ohio during a pursuit, but was arrested when he returned to the crime scene to retrieve his hat early Tuesday morning.

An officer attempted to stop Otha Montgomery's vehicle after he ran a red light on SOM Center Road around 2:15 a.m. when the teen began to speed up, according to The Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Officials say Montgomery then pulled into a driveway, bailed from the vehicle and ran. A man in the passenger's seat gave police a description of the teen, including the black baseball cap he was wearing.

Investigators stopped a man -- later identified as Montgomery -- who told them he was walking to a friend's house and decided not to arrest him. The teen later returned to the scene where the pursuit ended and gave officers a detailed description of a hat he was looking for.

Police found that hat in a flowerbed and arrested Montgomery.

He denied being the driver, but back at the station, police say he called a friend and told the story of the pursuit.

Montgomery is charged with failing to comply with a police order, obstructing official business and various traffic violations.

He is being held at the Lake County Sheriff's Office on a $3,500 bond.

Sign up for our eNewsletters
Get the latest news and updates

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!