BATAVIA TOWNSHIP -- When John Laing came across a tired-looking man with muddy pants walking along a hilly Clermont County road Tuesday morning, he knew something was wrong.
He had heard on early news programs that a man being sought by police after a two-state chase might be in the area of Camp Allyn, off Amelia-Olive Branch Road. Mr. Laing, 36, of Mount Washington, pulled his car up to the man.
"Hey buddy!" Mr. Laing yelled.
The man turned and replied: "It ain't me. It ain't me."
Mr. Laing suspected it was. So he decided to talk to him and delay the man until an officer stopped by. Within minutes, Robert Walls, 33, of Bethel was in the custody of Clermont County deputies, facing numerous charges from police in several Tristate jurisdictions. Mr. Walls had eluded police for about three hours Tuesday morning after a pursuit that started about 7 a.m. in Newport's Riverboat Row. A Newport police officer reported seeing Mr. Walls, driving a pickup, cruise through a stop sign. He began pursuing the truck, which crossed into Cincinnati on the Taylor Southgate Bridge, Newport Sgt. Coy Cox said.
The chase continued along Eastern Avenue and Kellogg Avenue, then onto Interstate 275, where the suspect turned north and headed into Clermont County.
Authorities said the man exited onto U.S. 50 and headed east. Union Township officers spotted the truck at Tealtown Road and Old 74, and soon after found the truck, wrecked and with two tires flat -- along the side of Amelia-Olive Branch Road.
With news helicopters buzzing low overhead, deputies began searching the area and received several sightings of Mr. Walls, including reports from residents of the Stonelick Woods Apartments on Old 74 that he was seen running east into a creek behind the complex. "My little boy, Andrew (8), was in the kitchen playing Nintendo and my kitchen door was unlocked. I went to check on Andrew when I saw (Mr. Walls) run by my (end) apartment. I called the sheriff," said Stephanie Smith, 27.
Clermont County Sheriff Tim "A.J." Rodenberg said he suspects Mr. Walls fled because he was wanted on a probation violation in Clermont County. Court records show Mr. Walls violated his parole last year on a charge of receiving stolen property. Mr. Walls had been sentenced to 180 days in jail and five years' probation in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.
The sheriff said Mr. Walls also has two other outstanding felony warrants in the county for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Newport police have charged Mr. Walls with disregarding a traffic-control device, attempting to elude a police officer and wanton endangerment, Sgt. Cox said. He is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at 1 p.m. today in Clermont County Municipal Court.
Jane Prendergast, Tom O'Neill and Tanya Bricking contributed to this report.
