WATCH: Man facing 3 charges from police pursuit that followed Franklin Walmart theft

A Moraine man will be arraigned on felony charges of fleeing and robbery as well as misdemeanor theft in Franklin Municipal Court following a police pursuit on Friday afternoon.

Robert Anthony Cochran, 35, is slated for video arraignment on at 2 p.m. Tuesday on charges of robbery, a second-degree felony; fleeing, a third-degree felony; and theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. He is being held in the Warren County Jail under a $135,000 bond. He was booked into the jail at 10:36 a.m. Saturday after receiving medical treatment following the crash Friday afternoon in downtown Franklin at the intersection of Riley Boulevard and East Second Street.

Police Chief Russell Whitman said police were called about 2:25 p.m. at the Walmart on East Second Street about a theft in progress.

Whitman said the suspect left the Walmart store in a small green Jeep Liberty towards Springboro. An unmarked police vehicle got behind the suspect’s vehicle on East Second Street. Once marked police units caught up, the suspect did not stop his vehicle for the officer’s lights and siren, Whitman said.

The suspect vehicle fled back into Franklin on East Second Street and continued west and turned left and the wrong way onto Main Street, turned left onto Third Street and left again on Riley Boulevard. Police said the suspect vehicle went left of center in an attempt to get through traffic and then went to the right to squeeze through more stopped traffic at the intersection of Riley Boulevard and Second Street. The suspect vehicle rammed several cars trying to push through, but was unsuccessful. The driver then fled on foot and was apprehended behind the Speedway gas station, police said.

One person was checked at the scene by Franklin Fire & EMS medics. Cochran was taken to Kettering Franklin Emergency Room for medical treatment Police said Cochran was taken to the Warren County Jail after being receiving medical treatment.

Cochran is accused taking several boxes of golf balls, valued at about $300, according to police.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the multiple car crash that ended the police pursuit.

Whitman said the traffic charges against Cochran are still pending.

About the Author