Niles man faces charges after chase
Staff report
NILES
A Niles man has pleaded innocent to failure to comply with the orders of a police officer after he led police on a high-speed chase throughout Trumbull County on Saturday afternoon.
Richard S. Kotsol, 43, of Bellview Drive, was taken into custody at Robbins and Rhodes avenues in Niles one hour after an officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources initially attempted to stop him for a traffic violation in Mosquito Lake State Park.
When Kotsol refused to stop at the state park, ODNR contacted the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 4:08 p.m. to assist.
Troopers chased Kotsol at high speeds and discontinued the chase more than once, said Lt. Brian T. Holt, commander of the OSP’s Southington post.
Officers from Bazetta, Champion, Weathersfield and Howland police departments also assisted.
Eventually, Kotsol was arrested by Niles police with troopers nearby.
No plea was accepted Monday in Niles Municipal Court, where Kotsol’s bond was set at $2,500. If convicted, Kotsol could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.