3 face felony charge in Pataskala home invasion that turned into chase
PATASKALA – Three men face an aggravated burglary charge after an alleged home invasion in Pataskala turned into a high-speed police chase.
Maurice D. Holland Jr., 25, of Columbus, Jeremiah M. Hardgrow, 41, of Pataskala, and Joseph T. Powell Jr., 32, of Pickerington, were arrested Wednesday and each charged with one count of aggravated burglary, a firstdegree felony.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Licking County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, deputies and detectives with the Licking County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home in the 100 block of Ford Avenue in Pataskala around 9:49 p.m. Tuesday for a reported home invasion.
While en route to the scene, the agency said dispatch reported the suspects, who had allegedly robbed the victims with firearms and bullet proof vests, fled in a white van.
The complaint said a Licking County deputy saw a vehicle matching the description turn off York Road westbound onto U.S. 40 at a high rate of speed, without stopping at the stop sign.
The vehicle was identified as a white 2020 Plymouth Voyager with a California license plate.
According to the complaint, the deputy caught up with the van at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Ohio 310. The document noted the van’s driver matched the description of the suspects.
The deputy reported activating his
lights and attempting to make a traffic stop when the van turned northbound onto Ohio 310, but said the vehicle failed to stop.
“During the pursuit on State Route 310 just north of Cameron Drive, (the deputy) observed the occupants toss a gym bag out of the vehicle,” the complaint stated.
“Deputies recovered the bag, which contained medical supplies, as well as two tactical vests on State Route 310 at Refugee Road.”
The complaint said the van turned westbound on Refugee Road, then south onto Etna Parkway.
Near Heritage Drive, LCSO said a suspect “bailed out of the vehicle” and fled on foot into a wooded area.
The agency said spike strips were used to stop the vehicle.
Hardgrow and Holland were identified as being in the vehicle and Powell, the agency said, was found in the woods.
According to the agency, the chase lasted about eight miles at speeds up to 110 mph on roads with icy conditions.
Inside the vehicle, the agency reported finding a bullet proof vest plate, plastic zip tie handcuffs, a Taser magazine, and ski mask.
LCSO said the victims spoke to detectives at their home, telling them two adults and three children were home at the time of the incident.
The victims reported two individuals wearing black clothing, body armor with zip tie handcuffs, gloves and ski masks entered through their front door, pointing firearms at multiple victims inside the home, the agency said.
Two co-defendants allegedly gathered four of the victims into the kitchen, “ransacked” the master bedroom, and brought the last victim, a juvenile, from his room to the kitchen.
“The victims stated the co-defendants pointed the firearms at the victims advising the victims not to look or they would shoot them,” the complaint said.
“The co-defendants left the residence after stealing two duffel bags, one of which contained medical supplies, and got into the van, which was being driven by a third co-defendant, fleeing the scene.”
The agency noted their officers located the same type of zip ties at the crime scene and outside the van.
Criminal complaints filed in the case show the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office intends to request each defendant be held on a $1 million bond due to the nature of the offenses and potential additional charges. The document noted each co-defendant has “criminal histories that include drug offenses and offenses of violence.”
A grand jury will review the case for possible indictment and possible additional charges.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 11 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine.