Wild chase ends with suspect found hiding in dumpster after snowy foot pursuit
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A high-speed chase through Columbus streets ended in a bizarre discovery when a fleeing suspect was found hiding inside a dumpster after officers tracked footprints in the snow.
The early morning chaos unfolded around 2:11 a.m. on Monday, March 17, when a stolen vehicle was spotted near Wedgewood Drive and Sullivant Avenue.
What followed quickly escalated.
The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed after a traffic stop was attempted, leading officers on a pursuit that only came to an end after spike strips were deployed.
Once the car finally stopped near Sullivant Avenue and Georgesville Road, the suspects bailed out and ran — disappearing into the snowy surroundings.
But the snow worked against them.
Fresh footprints left a clear trail, allowing officers to track one suspect directly to a dumpster, where Emory Ferguson was found hiding.
As officers moved in to make the arrest, the situation turned violent.
Ferguson allegedly punched and bit one officer while also pulling the hair of another during the struggle, according to police.
A second suspect, identified as a juvenile, was also located nearby and taken into custody.
Both suspects were ultimately arrested, bringing the chaotic sequence — from car chase to foot pursuit to dumpster hiding — to an end.
Key Points
- Stolen vehicle fled traffic stop leading to high-speed chase
- Suspect tracked by footprints in snow and found in dumpster
- Officer assaulted during arrest as second suspect also caught