WARREN COUNTY, Ohio -- Investigators are reportedly searching for a possible second suspect who may have been involved in the high-speed chase that ended with the death of a Warren County Sheriff's deputy early Tuesday morning.
A search is being conducted in the wooded areas behind Lebanon High School before 2 p.m., according to school officials. Students were released 20 minutes early as a precaution after being locked down.
WARREN CO: Deputies Mourn Loss Of Brian Dulle
Warren County Deputy Brian Dulle died instantly after being struck during the high-speed chase.
Dulle, 36, of Turtlecreek Twp., was attempting to put out stop sticks when the driver, who was fleeing police in a 2001 Cadillac, hit him on U.S. Route 42 near Utica Road north of Lebanon, according to Warren County Sheriff Larry Sims.
The chase began in Franklin around 2 a.m. and the suspect was captured after he hit Dulle and fled on foot.
Police located the suspect around 6:20 a.m. following a massive manhunt that involved K-9 units and police helicopters. The suspect was taken into custody without incident at Drake Road and state Route 122 in Warren County.
The driver also hit another police cruiser during the chase.
“The suspect vehicle was heading south on 42. The suspect vehicle was actually driving in the northbound lanes on the wrong side of the road,” Sims told our partners at The Western-Star. “He did strike a sheriff’s cruiser almost head-on. Another cruiser had to avoid being struck. Shortly after that another deputy from our agency was deploying stop sticks and was struck and ultimately killed by the suspect vehicle.”
Sims said this is the first time a Warren County deputy has been killed in the line of duty. Dulle had been with the office since 1999 and was promoted to sergeant in 2005. He was a graduate of Edgewood High School, attended Miami University and was a member of the U.S. Army. Dulle is survived by his wife and three young children.
Lebanon Schools were put on a two-hour delay due to U.S. 42 being shut down.
During a morning press conference, Sims said the Warren County Prosecutor's Office is working with his department to investigate what happened.
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