HOWARD — A Knox County Sheriff’s deputy received minor injuries during a foot chase and apprehension early Monday morning.
According to Knox County Sheriff David Barber, after a wreck in Apple Valley around 3 a.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol issued a radio request for assistance in locating two suspects who had fled on foot from an accident scene on Apple Valley Road.
Barber said three deputies started toward the scene of the accident.
“Deputy [Mike] Rutherford was coming into Apple Valley when he saw a car going up the driveway into Pier Plaza,” Barber said. “He spoke with the driver, who told him he was picking up his friend’s son behind the car wash.”
Rutherford watched the car pull behind the car wash, and saw a man walk out of the woods and get into the vehicle, according to Barber.
“He stopped the car, had the passenger get out, and saw he matched the description OSP had of one of the people,” the sheriff explained.
The man Barber identified as Wade Lawfry was taken into custody by Rutherford.
“Deputy Kevin Durbin then transported him back to the accident scene,” said Barber.
Barber said that shortly after Lawfry’s apprehension, Deputy David Devolld advised over the radio the other subject had been seen running from a home on Apple Tree Court.
“When Mike got to that area, he saw someone run behind the house into the woods,” Barber said. “He chased him and identified himself as a sheriff’s deputy and ordered him to stop.”
After a pursuit through the woods, during which Rutherford was injured by striking his leg on two fallen trees, the deputy was able to overtake 25-year-old Damon Hawkins of Gambier, and take him into custody. Hawkins was turned over to troopers from the OSHP.
Rutherford was treated at Knox Community Hospital for minor injuries to his leg, and released. Barber praised the work of Rutherford and other deputies, as well as the cooperation between the OSHP and his office.
“This is another example of the team effort between OSP and the sheriff’s office,” Barber said late Monday. “All three deputies headed there to help the trooper, and that’s just the way we do things. If they have an in-progress situation our guys will respond, and if we have a situation and request assistance, they are quick to do so.”
