Two arrested, search ongoing for one vehicle after vehicle thefts, chase on Route 2 leads to crashes (UPDATED)

Two suspects are in custody after a stolen vehicle chase on state Route 2 Thursday morning resulted in two crashes, including one with a Lorain County Sheriff's deputy. State Highway Patrol troopers followed five reportedly stolen vehicles eastbound on the state route just after 6 a.m. Thursday. The vehicles were driving at high speeds without license plates or dealer tags, a report said, and all drivers were wearing ski masks. The drivers got off the highway at state Route 611 in Avon. One vehicle crashed into another at the intersection of Interstate 90 and state Route 611, while another struck a Lorain County Sheriff's vehicle head-on. The first crash resulted in no injuries and the driver took off running. The deputy in the Lorain County Sheriff's vehicle sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital. Two suspects — a 21-year-old man and a 15-year-old male — were arrested at the scene and charged. Troopers recovered those suspects' vehicles, which were reportedly stolen. Two other reportedly stolen vehicles were found abandoned in the vicinity. At least three of the vehicles involved were stolen from Firelands Dodge in Perkins Township near Sandusky, the Highway Patrol's report said. Joseph Rotuno, a detective with Perkins Township police, said the theft occurred at the dealership shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. A group suspected to be involved in other thefts at dealerships in Canton and Madison Township arrived in a Dodge Durango SUV, broke into the dealership and stole two more Durangos, a Chevrolet Camaro and a Dodge Ram TRX truck, he said. "The group had showed up, broke out a window inside, located the key fobs for those specific vehicles ... and were able to get those vehicles on the road," Rotuno said. The group initially planned to steal a third Durango, but left it still running to take the Dodge Ram TRX once they noticed the truck near the back of the lot, Rotuno said. A Highway Patrol lieutenant noticed the vehicles driving in tandem as he was heading to work Thursday morning, Rotuno said, recognizing them as vehicles that had been frequently stolen and that they were without plates. The report said at least two suspects and one stolen vehicle remain at large. Troopers are asking anyone with information on the vehicle, a gray 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with a black convertible top, to call (216) 265-1677. Rotuno said detectives are trying to use the vehicle's infotainment center for location information. Multiple agencies, including North Ridgeville police, Avon police, State Highway Patrol and the Sheriff's Office responded to the incident, using K-9 units and drones for the search. State Route 611 was closed in Avon from about 6:30 a.m. until about 8:30 a.m., according to incident logs from Avon police. The Highway Patrol is leading the investigation. Contact Richard Perrins at (440) 687-5172 or email rperrins@chroniclet.com.