4 facing drug charges after Middletown police chase

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The four Middletown residents involved in a police pursuit that started in Middletown and ended in West Chester Twp. had their cases bound over to the Butler County Grand Jury.

All waived their rights to a preliminary hearing Wednesday and visiting Middletown Municipal Court Judge Mel Kemmer bound their cases over, then released them on their own recognizance.

MORE: Police chase ends in West Chester when car catches fire

The four charged after the pursuit on Interstate 75 were:

  • Sammy Miller, 30, drug abuse methamphetamine, warrant City of Franklin, warrant Middletown and obstructing official business
  • Rachel Bunch, 28, drug abuse methamphetamine, drug abuse instruments, warrant Hamilton County, tampering with evidence, and obstructing official business
  • Steve Skalley, 50, warrant Butler County, drug paraphernalia, fleeing and alluding police and numerous traffic violations
  • William Warren, 37, warrant Warren County, drug abuse methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia

Another person charged in the incident, Tanya Petry, 30, had been convicted of permitting drug abuse and sentenced to 90 days in jail, and was given credit for three days served. The other 87 days were suspended and she was placed on one year probation and fined $500.

Police found crystal methamphetamine in the SUV after the pursuit, said Lt. Jimmy Cunningham. More crystal methamphetamine was recovered on Interstate 75 after it was thrown from the fleeing vehicle, Cunningham said.

After these arrests, police conducted a search of an apartment in the 600 block of Layette Avenue.

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