Latest news with #DevinLopac
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Man enters plea deal for Easter weekend police chase
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A man who spent parts of Easter weekend in jail will not spend any more time behind bars after entering a plea agreement in the case. Devin Lopac appeared in court last week where he entered a plea deal. He entered a guilty to a reduced charge of failure to comply, lowered from a fourth-degree felony to a first-degree misdemeanor. A charge of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle was dismissed. As part of the agreement, he entered a no-contest plea to an amended charge of physical control, originally the charge of OVI. He was ordered to serve 180 days with 173 suspended and credit for seven days already served. He was also sentenced to probation for one year and ordered to pay $250 in fines. The charges stemmed from an extensive police chase through Austintown and parts of Hubbard that a responding officer suspected may have began as a street race. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
100+ mph police chase started as suspected street race: Report
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — One man spent part of the holiday weekend in jail after reports state he led police on an extensive chase in the early hours of the morning on Easter Sunday. An officer with the Austintown Police Department was patrolling on Mahoning Avenue around 1:20 a.m. Sunday when he observed an Audi and a sport-style motorcycle driving 'at a high rate of speed.' Reports state the officer suspected the vehicles to be racing, describing them as weaving around others in the roadway. At the intersection of Mahoning Avenue and Racoon Road, the vehicles parted ways when the motorcycle turned onto Racoon Road and the car stopped for a red light. The officer then activated the cruiser's emergency lights to pull over the car, which reports state sped away. A pursuit ensued, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, according to the report. It covered parts of Mahoning Avenue before turning onto the northbound ramp of state Route 11, which turns into I-80. The reporting officer said the evading car reached a maximum of around 125 mph, running stop signs and red lights. After an extensive pursuit, the car was eventually trapped after turning onto Van Ness Avenue, which has no outlet. The pursuing officer in reports stated that the car attempted to turn around but was unable after he positioned the patrol car to block it in. The officer then exited the patrol car and drew his firearm, pointing it at the Audi's two occupants, now illuminated by the gun's mounted light, and ordered them to show their hands. While a female passenger complied and raised her hands, reports state the driver, identified as Devin Lopac, then backed the Audi up and navigated it around the rear of the police cruiser, beginning the chase anew. This chase, which went into and out of Hubbard, briefly included the Hubbard Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol, which deployed a spike strip under the Mosier Road Bridge that crosses I-80, forcing the Audi to come to a stop. Reports state that both occupants of the Audi then got out of the vehicle, with Lopac dropping to his knees and placing his hands behind his head. Reports also state that a Hubbard Police cruiser was hit by the vehicle Lopac was driving and that OSHP is investigating. When police interviewed the passenger, she said Lopac told her that he didn't want to add points to his license from a DUI. Through the interview, police determined the passenger was not at fault and released her from their custody. Police then searched the car and found a loaded handgun in the pocket of the driver's door and a small bottle of Fireball liqueur on the front passenger seat, according to reports. When interviewing Lopac, reports state he smelled of alcohol and had glossy eyes, leading officers to determine that he was intoxicated. However, reports state he refused to submit to a chemical test to determine his level of intoxication. Court records show Lopac is facing felony charges of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle, and a first-degree misdemeanor charge of OVI. Lopac appeared in court Monday afternoon, where bond was set at $15,000. He is set to return to court May 7. The report does not give any further details regarding the motorcycle believed to have been involved in the initial suspected street race. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
