By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted a 25-year-old Newport man on charges stemming from a bizarre car chase last October.

The indictment accuses Ryan Lloyd of being a felon in possession of a gun, posing as a federal agent, and taking a stolen car across state lines. The government is also seeking to keep his gun.

Lloyd - who has an extensive criminal record and was already wanted for a federal probation violation when the chase occurred - faces up to 23 years in prison if convicted.

The car chase began Oct. 10, a day after state police say Lloyd robbed an elderly couple on Interstate 75 by flashing a fake police badge and motioning for them to pull over.

The next day a description of Lloyd's car, a black Mustang, was broadcast over police radios. Also that day, Lloyd drove the Mustang to the Lexus dealership in Covington.

Lloyd, allegedly wearing a holstered handgun and a set of handcuffs, had his 3-year-old son with him.

At the dealership, Lloyd "did falsely pretend to be an officer or agent acting under the authority of the United States" so he could get the keys to a 2003 Lexus, the indictment states.

Lloyd drove away with his son in the passenger seat, police said after the chase. The pursuit started in Covington then sped into Cincinnati with the Lexus driving on sidewalks and running red lights, police said.

Police eventually found the car abandoned at a Westwood apartment complex.

The next day, police found Lloyd at a Howard Johnson motel off Ridge Road in Columbia Township. Authorities also found 4 grams of what turned out to be heroin, several sets of car keys, a Smith & Wesson handgun and a fake police badge in the hotel room, U.S. Marshal John Schickel said after Lloyd's arrest.

At the time of the alleged crime spree, Lloyd was wanted by federal agents for violating his probation on bank fraud charges.

Covington Police said Lloyd would also face state charges of first-degree wanton endangerment, receiving stolen property over $300 and endangering the welfare of a minor.

Lloyd was charged in Cincinnati with heroin possession and disobeying a police officer. Records show Lloyd failed to appear in court on those charges in January and warrants were issued for his arrest.

Lloyd is listed on the Kentucky State Police sex offender registry with offenses including attempted solicitation and second-degree rape.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com