CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe man has been identified following a traffic stop that escalated into a brief pursuit involving a dirt bike earlier this month.
According to the Chillicothe Police Department, the incident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on March 10, 2026, near South Paint Street and East Main Street.
An officer observed a red dirt bike traveling westbound on East Main Street before turning onto South Paint Street. The driver was wearing a helmet, making immediate identification of the suspect unlikely, the officer noted the motorcycle did not display a license plate. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the rider reportedly looked back, shaking his head acknowledging the officer and then accelerated failing to comply.
The dirt bike continued accelerating southbound on Paint Street, revving its engine and increasing speed. The officer followed at a safe distance but was later instructed by a supervisor to discontinue the pursuit due to safety concerns, however these concerns were not notated in the report. The rider continued southbound onto State Route 772, fleeing the area.
The following day, officers began investigating the incident further. Employees at a nearby business, The Wobbly Ghost Tavern, indicated that surveillance footage may exist but would need to be accessed by the owner.
On March 10, the business owner provided photographs related to the incident. The images showed a male standing beside a motorcycle matching the one involved.
On March 11, an individual contacted law enforcement and stated he knew the operator of the motorcycle as Skylar Murphy. The individual provided a photograph and completed a statement form.
Police confirmed Murphy’s identity by comparing the provided image with an existing booking photograph of an earlier arrest of Murphy.
By March 14, investigators had formally identified Murphy as the suspect and requested a warrant in connection with the incident.
Murphy was later taken into custody by another agency. On March 26, officers served him with a warrant related to the case. He was advised of a scheduled court appearance set for March 27 at 9:00 a.m. in Chillicothe Municipal Court.
Murphy faces charges including failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.
Murphy is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This incident highlights the utilization of modern investigative techniques and to identify subjects who would otherwise escape justice.
