Woman stole car while its driver was being arrested, prosecutors say

ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — An Ohio woman is accused of leading police on a pursuit for 30 minutes after stealing a car during a traffic stop.

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The Athens County prosecutor said in a news release that Hannah Warren was indicted on charges that she stole the vehicle on Oct. 29.

According to police, an officer in Buchtel, Ohio, had stopped a 2017 Nissan SUV for a light violation and was in the process of arresting its driver for an active warrant, when Hannah Warren approached and tried to make contact with both the officer and the driver.

Police said that as the officer took the driver to his patrol vehicle, Warren got into the driver’s seat of the Nissan and “sped off,” WCMH reported. Officers attempted to pursue the vehicle, but lost sight of the SUV.

Prosecutors said the SUV was later spotted in Nelsonville, where police began a pursuit that spanned 30 minutes and took officers throughout the city. The chase ended when the SUV crashed into a patrol car.

Warren then allegedly got out of the car and tried to run away, before she was tased and arrested, WCHS reported.

The prosecutor said Warren told officers she had drugs in her backpack. A search revealed drugs and paraphernalia.

Warren was indicted Monday on a list of charges, including grand theft of a motor vehicle, felonious assault, and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.

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