Trial set for North Ridgeville man who led police on 7-county chase

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A June trial has been scheduled for a North Ridgeville man who led police on a high-speed chase through seven counties in January.

George Tiller, 33, appeared in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Friday morning and entered a not-guilty plea to one charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which are first-degree misdemeanors.

Delaware County Common Pleas Magistrate Kristin Schultz scheduled Tiller’s trial for June 9 and said Tiller will have until June 2 to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors. Schultz also placed Tiller on a recognizance bond.

Assistant Delaware County Prosecutor Mark Sleeper told Schultz that on Jan. 31 at about 1 a.m., police in Cuyahoga County attempted to pull Tiller over for speeding as he drove a black 2014 Ford F-150 at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

The chase continued through Medina, Wayne, Ashland, Richland and Morrow counties until spike strips deployed by troopers eventually brought the truck to a halt on Interstate 71 near the Lewis Center Road bridge in Delaware County.

Tiller left the truck and continued on foot briefly before being apprehended by police at about 2:15 a.m., according to Sleeper.

State troopers said Tiller sustained minor injuries in the crash and reportedly was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital to be treated before he was taken to the Delaware County Jail.

Sleeper said troopers smelled alcohol on Tiller at the time of his arrest but Tiller refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Tiller’s attorney, Christine Russo, said Friday that since his January arrest, Tiller has been involved in Alcoholics Anonymous.

No one was injured in the chase, deputies from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office reported. The truck was severely damaged in the crash, troopers said. At the time of the crash, the front tires were both shredded and the truck was being driven on rims.

Tiller appeared in Delaware Municipal Court on Feb. 1 and entered a not-guilty plea to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless operation of a vehicle, failure to control and felony fleeing.

Tiller was released from the Delaware County Jail later that day after posting bond.

Tiller
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/04/web1_Tiller.jpgTiller Courtesy photo | Delaware County Jail

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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