Man jailed for allegedly threatening ex-wife before leading police on 105 mph chase on Route 11
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains descriptions of violence that may offend some readers.
A Columbus area man is in the Mahoning County Jail after allegedly threatening to kill his ex-wife and "eat her liver", then leading authorities on a high-speed chase from Austintown to Columbiana.
Andrew Scott Morris, 53, of Plain City, Ohio, was booked into jail Thursday on charges of attempted murder, failure to comply with a police order, using a weapon while intoxicated, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and OVI.
The charges stem from a July 6 incident where area police received word late that a man was coming from Plain City, Ohio to possibly do harm to his ex-wife in Niles and may want to commit suicide by cop.
According to police, one of the threats included cutting out his ex-wife's liver with a knife and eating it while she dies.
When Austintown Police spotted his Kia Soul in the parking lot of a truck stop at Route 46 and Interstate 80, officers said they tried to talk to the man.
Instead, police say he sped from the parking lot, running over spiked stop strips placed at the exit by state troopers.
Even with a flattened tire, police say the chase proceeded on I-80 to 11 southbound with speeds up to 105 miles per hour.
The Kia hit more stop sticks placed by Canfield Police south of Route 224.
Driving on bare wheel rims with sparks flying, the car finally pulled over on Route 11 south of the Columbiana exit.
The arresting officer said alcohol could be detected on the driver’s breath. However, he refused to under tests for alcohol levels.
Police found a rifle, a shotgun, an ax, and a knife in the car.
Morris was taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
He now awaits arraignment in county court in Austintown.