What began as a routine traffic stop near Salem turned into a police pursuit with shots fired and an odyssey that went through three counties and ended with the arrest of four fugitives.

Perry Township Police say it began around 5 a.m. Thursday when one of their officers began chasing a car that they tried to pull over for having a fictitious license plate.

Shots were fired from the car as it was being pursued, according to police.

The car crashed along Route 39 just east of Salineville.

Police say they arrested 39-year-old Aaron Freet at the scene of the crash.  However, they say 25-year-old Brandon House escaped down a ravine.

State Troopers, deputies, and police searched the area, but House was nowhere to be found.

Troopers later arrested House and two other men in a stolen car in Trumbull County.

Police say, Freet, House, and the two men arrested with House were all recently released from prison and were living at the Community Corrections Association halfway house in Youngstown.

Freet served time for burglary and possessing a deadly weapon.

House was on parole after being convicted in Columbiana County of multiple counts of theft, breaking and entering, safecracking, and drug possession.

All are being held in jail awaiting new charges.

Route 39 was closed at the crash scene during the investigation. The road has since reopened.