Police capture Ohio fugitive in Whitley County

An Ohio man is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center without bond after allegedly leading a sheriff’s deputy on a five-minute long pursuit Wednesday night before getting away only to later be detained by a local security guard.

An Ohio woman, who was also inside the stolen vehicle and once lived in Williamsburg, is being held in jail in lieu of a $15,000 cash bond.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Whitley County Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Riley spotted two individuals, who were wanted in Ohio, inside a Toyota Camry, which was reported stolen from Ashland, Ky. on that same day, according to a press release from Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell.

After spotting Riley, the duo fled and the chase lasted about five minutes before the vehicle stopped on Lucy Lake Hollow, according to the release.

A male subject inside the vehicle fled the scene, but Riley apprehended the other individual inside the vehicle, who remained at the scene.

Riley charged Melissa Johnson, 23, of 1603 Drake Drive, Xenia, Ohio, with receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, first-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving, first-degree wanton endangerment, operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, and no insurance.

Later that evening, Ancil Bowlin, a security guard at Rowe’s Scrap Metal, detained Mark J. Ferguson, 25, of 98 North Street, Xenia, Ohio, until police could arrive.

Riley charged Ferguson with speeding 26 mph or more over the speed limit, receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment, no insurance, operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, and on five counts of being a fugitive from another state.

Both were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt entered not guilty pleas on their behalves during their video arraignments from the Whitley County Detention Center Thursday afternoon.

She scheduled Dec. 12 preliminary hearings in their cases, and appointed the public advocate’s office to represent each defendant.

Prewitt declined to set a bond for Ferguson noting the fugitive warrants against him. She opted not to lower a $15,000 cash bond in Johnson’s case, but noted she might reconsider the bond amount during Johnson’s next court hearing.

Prewitt agreed to dismiss a separate 2008 Whitley County traffic case against Johnson for no insurance, having no operator’s/moped license and for failing to register the transfer of a motor vehicle.

Johnson told Prewitt during the hearing that she used to live in Whitley County.

According to published reports, Ferguson and Johnson are married, and he allegedly abducted her from a hotel room in Xenia, Ohio, about 7 a.m. Sunday.

Ferguson allegedly threw a rock through a Knight’s Inn window, and entered the business with a knife.

According to the Xenia Police Department, Ferguson threatened everyone in the room and removed Johnson from the motel against her will.

Police believe that couple was initially in a stolen Chevrolet Impala, which was taken Sunday, and later discovered broken down and abandoned in Lawrence County, Ohio.

From there, two teenagers allegedly gave the pair a ride to a Burger King in Ashland, Ky. during the evening hours of Dec. 5.

"In the area where they were dropped off, a vehicle was stolen from a parking lot of an Apple Bees Restaurant in Ashland," according to a Xenia Police press release.

After Lawrence County Ohio Deputies talked to witnesses, police had a high degree of certainty that the vehicle was stolen by Ferguson. At this point, police re-broadcast the description of the new stolen vehicle and suspect in the Kentucky and Tennessee areas.

"We had received information from the Lawrence County Ohio Sheriff’s Office that the suspect told witnesses that he was heading to Tennessee," Xenia Police Captain Scott Anger said in the release.

From there, Xenia police checked with several local departments in the Williamsburg and Jellico areas, gaining valuable leads.

"We were able to ascertain a possible relative’s residence in Williamsburg, Ky.," Anger said. "We contacted the Whitley County Kentucky Sheriff’s Office and they made contact at the residence."

Deputies were told that Ferguson and Johnson had been there earlier in the day Wednesday.

About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Ferguson was seen driving the stolen White Toyota in the area.

Melissa Johnson was found in the vehicle unharmed.

Ferguson was found about 90 minutes later, according to the Xenia Police Department press release.

Johnson told WLEX television Wednesday evening that Ferguson isn’t a bad person, and that he was normally a sweet man.
The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene Wednesday by Kentucky State Police and Williamsburg Police Department.

The Ohio authorities and Ashland, Kentucky authorities were notified in relation to recovery of the vehicle and the apprehension of Ferguson and Johnson.