Springfield man facing multiple charges after chase, crash

Steven Masters sits quietly during a criminal arraignment session in Clark County Municipal Court on Friday morning. JENNA LAWSON/STAFF.

Steven Masters sits quietly during a criminal arraignment session in Clark County Municipal Court on Friday morning. JENNA LAWSON/STAFF.

A Springfield man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he led them on a chase through the city on Thursday evening.

Steven Masters, 26, was arraigned in Clark County Municipal Court on Friday morning on charges of fleeing from officers, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, having weapons while under disability, carrying concealed weapons, receiving stolen property, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle as well as several traffic offenses.

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A police report says officers noticed Masters driving in the area of Burt Street and East Pleasant Street on Thursday and tried to pull him over on outstanding warrants relating to a protection order that he violated — but Masters took off.

“We continued eastbound at speeds over 70 mph running multiple stop signs including the intersection of Van Buren Avenue and South Clairmont Avenue,” the police report says.

The chase continued, and at one point police clocked Masters at over 90 mph on East Main Street.

Masters eventually crashed the car he was driving into a parked van at The Star pawn shop at the corner of East Main and South Fostoria, where he and another man in the car with him were taken into custody.

Officers found guns in the car, as well as what appeared to be baggies of drugs when they searched both of the men.

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The report says the car that Masters was driving was reported as stolen to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

The pawn shop owner, Chris Haggy said he got the call that the van on his business’ property had been hit and all he could think about is the money he was losing. He had a buyer in line before the crash happened.

“We’ll just take a total loss other than what we can scrap it for,” he said.

Haggy said that’s the third time a vehicle at his business has been hit, and he’s considering putting more concrete barriers around the property to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Visiting Judge Mel Kemmer entered not guilty pleas for Masters on all charges and set his total bond at $77,500.

The passenger, Austin J. Paul was charged with having weapons under disability, carrying a concealed weapon and firearms in a motor vehicle.

Not guilty pleas were also entered for Paul and his bond was set at $25,000.

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