Ohio man convicted of kidnapping, carjacking in chase sentenced

On Feb 11, 2022

A man accused of carjacking two drivers during a chase through Warren County has been sentenced to prison.Bryon E. Finklea, Jr., 25, was convicted of one count of robbery, two counts of kidnapping, one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, one count of aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, and one count of endangering children for his involvement in a crime spree which spanned multiple cities. Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy Tepe sentenced Finklea to an indefinite term of 18 to 20 years in prison. Finklea will also have to register as a violent offender for ten years upon his release, and his driver’s license was suspended for a period of twenty years.The incident happened on Aug. 8, 2020, around 11:35 a.m. when Finklea was speeding on I-75 southbound around 110 miles per hour. When a trooper tried to pull over the SUV, the driver refused and a pursuit began. Finklea, of Dayton, eventually exited onto State Route 63 in Monroe and pulled into the parking lot of a Kroger. That’s when the passenger, 21-year-old Jonisa Reddick of Dayton, got out and was arrested.Officials say Finklea fled back onto State Route 63 but the SUV became disabled at the intersection of 63 and Gateway Boulevard and that’s when the first carjacking took place. Finklea stole a car with two children in the back seat and fled again on SR 63.Dashcam video from two Ohio State Highway Patrol cruisers caught the moment the suspect stole the car with two children inside. The owner of the car could be heard saying, “he’s got my daughter in the car.”At this point, troopers with the Lebanon Patrol Post, deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the pilot were all in pursuit of the vehicle, with the pilot relaying the location to units on the ground.One of the children was able to escape in Lebanon near US 42 and SR 63, but Finklea fled with the other child still inside the car. The other child was let out in Mason, with Finklea fleeing from that location as well. Both children were secured by officers at each location.Investigators say Finklea crashed at Tylersville Road and Dudley Drive in West Chester and then carjacked a 16-year-old driver, fleeing with the stolen car onto I-75, headed north.The pursuit came to an end in Springboro, when officers with that department determined the speed and traffic conditions made the chase too dangerous and called it off.The stolen car was eventually recovered in a Dayton neighborhood.

LEBANON, Ohio —

A man accused of carjacking two drivers during a chase through Warren County has been sentenced to prison.

Bryon E. Finklea, Jr., 25, was convicted of one count of robbery, two counts of kidnapping, one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, one count of aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, and one count of endangering children for his involvement in a crime spree which spanned multiple cities.

Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy Tepe sentenced Finklea to an indefinite term of 18 to 20 years in prison. Finklea will also have to register as a violent offender for ten years upon his release, and his driver’s license was suspended for a period of twenty years.

The incident happened on Aug. 8, 2020, around 11:35 a.m. when Finklea was speeding on I-75 southbound around 110 miles per hour.

When a trooper tried to pull over the SUV, the driver refused and a pursuit began. Finklea, of Dayton, eventually exited onto State Route 63 in Monroe and pulled into the parking lot of a Kroger. That’s when the passenger, 21-year-old Jonisa Reddick of Dayton, got out and was arrested.

Officials say Finklea fled back onto State Route 63 but the SUV became disabled at the intersection of 63 and Gateway Boulevard and that’s when the first carjacking took place. Finklea stole a car with two children in the back seat and fled again on SR 63.

Dashcam video from two Ohio State Highway Patrol cruisers caught the moment the suspect stole the car with two children inside. The owner of the car could be heard saying, “he’s got my daughter in the car.”

At this point, troopers with the Lebanon Patrol Post, deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the pilot were all in pursuit of the vehicle, with the pilot relaying the location to units on the ground.

One of the children was able to escape in Lebanon near US 42 and SR 63, but Finklea fled with the other child still inside the car. The other child was let out in Mason, with Finklea fleeing from that location as well. Both children were secured by officers at each location.

Investigators say Finklea crashed at Tylersville Road and Dudley Drive in West Chester and then carjacked a 16-year-old driver, fleeing with the stolen car onto I-75, headed north.

The pursuit came to an end in Springboro, when officers with that department determined the speed and traffic conditions made the chase too dangerous and called it off.

The stolen car was eventually recovered in a Dayton neighborhood.