Suspect in fatal Huber Heights pursuit to undergo mental evaluation

Kyndra Shackelford — indicted last month on a series of charges in connection to a Huber Heights pursuit that ended in a fatal crash — filed motions to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Here are the key points in the investigation:

• Huber Heights Officer Mike Winterbotham pursued Kyndra Shackelford, 18, driving a stolen car at 80 mph; alcohol suspected
• Shackelford accused of hitting an SUV at Needmore and Wagner Ford
• Marcus Harper, 50, driver of SUV was killed; Loretta Creech, 53, critically injured

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UPDATE @ 12:01 p.m. April 14:

The attorney for Kyndra Shackleford, accused in a Huber Heights police chase that end in a fatal car crash, filed motions this week asking the court to allow her to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Shackleford was in court today for a scheduling hearing. Her next appearance May 26 will go over the results from a mental competency evaluation.

UPDATE @ 11:41 a.m. March 31:

The court entered a plea of not guilty plea for Kyndra Shackleford, accused in a Huber Heights police chase that end in a fatal car crash. Her bond is set at $500,000 and she remains in Montgomery County Jail.

Shackleford will appear next in court April 14 for a scheduling hearing.

UPDATE @ 3:01 p.m. March 28:

Kyndra Shackelford has been indicted on a series of charges in connection to a Huber Heights pursuit that ended in a fatal crash.

Shackelford was indicted on aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and grand theft in connection to the case.

Shackelford is expected to be arraigned in court on March 31.

UPDATE @ 4:43 p.m. March 22:

The officer involved in the Huber Heights police pursuit that ended in a fatal crash was disciplined for running a red light in November, according to personnel records obtained by this news organization.

Officer Mike Winterbotham received a written warning for a Nov. 28, 2015 traffic incident in Dayton at the corner of Main and Monument. A record of disciplinary stated that Winterbotham “failed to obey the red light, entered the intersection striking another vehicle.” The report said there were no injuries but that Winterbotham was at fault.

UPDATE @ 11:34 a.m. March 21:

A not guilty plea was filed of behalf on Kyndra Shackelford in court today.

Her bond was continued at $750,000.

Loretta Creech, 53, of Xenia, remains in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital.

UPDATE @ 11:21 a.m. March 21:

The woman accused of fleeing from police and causing a fatal crash last week is scheduled to be arraigned this morning.

Kyndra Shackelford, 18, is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide; aggravated vehicular assault; failure to comply; grand theft auto, according to Greg Flannagan, of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.

Shackelford was fleeing from Huber Heights police when she crashed into an SUV at the intersection of Needmore and Wagner Ford roads Thursday.

Marcus Harper, 50, of Xenia, was killed in the crash after Shackelford’s vehicle collided with the SUV he was driving.

Loretta Creech, 53, of Xenia, was critically injured in the crash and at last check remained at Miami Valley Hospital.

Shackelford is suspected of being under the influence at the time of the pursuit and crash, according to a crash report.

Harper also was believed to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, the report indicated.

Shackelford is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

UPDATE @ 4:13 p.m. March 18:

Official charges have been approved for Kyndra Shackelford, the accused driver in a fatal Huber Heights pursuit. She’s charged with aggravated vehicular homicide; aggravated vehicular assault; failure to comply; grand theft auto, according to Greg Flannagan, of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.

UPDATE @ 2:52 p.m. March 18:

A Huber Heights police report shows that officer Mike Winterbotham pursued the stolen Chevrolet Impala driven by Kyndra Shackelford that crashed into an SUV and killed that vehicle’s unidentified driver early Thursday morning.

“I initiated a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet Impala for marked lanes violations and for matching the description of a vehicle that was just stolen nearby in Butler Twp.,” Winterbotham wrote in the report. Huber Heights police Chief Mark Lightner reiterated on Friday that the chase was a proper execution of the department’s pursuit policy.

The crime listed on the report was failure to comply with the order of a police officer, a third-degree felony.

UPDATE @ 3:24 p.m. March 17:

A pursuit that ended in a fatal crash was justified.

“We did review this pursuit and yes, it does conform to our pursuit policy,” said Huber Heights Police Chief Mark Lightner. “We review every pursuit we have.”

Lightner said the department had received a call about a stolen vehicle, that was reported to have been taken at a Speedway location in Butler Twp. The department located a vehicle similar in description to the stolen vehicle and the driver of the vehicle was driving eractically, Lightner said.

“He was obligated to stop that car,” the chief said. “It had the potential to strike oncoming taffic head-on.”

Lightner said the driver also nearly struck another police cruiser during the pursuit.

The chief said the city’s pursuit policy is supported by the department and other city leaders.

“We attempt to stop known and wanted criminals and traffic violators,” Lightner said.

UPDATE @ 2:44 p.m.:

We received cruiser camera video of the Huber Heights police pursuit and deadly crash. The department also released its pursuit policy. It states officers are justified in pursuing wanted criminals and traffic violators who fail to stop upon notice. Good judgment and common sense must be used in every vehicle pursuit. The safety of officers and citizens is paramount concern in a pursuit.

According to dispatch traffic, the officer reported conditions were clear. The officer also reported the driver of the stolen vehicle failed to pull over, was traveling at approximately 83 mph, crossed the center line and ran a stop sign.

UPDATE @ 1:17 p.m.:

Deputies have arrested the 18-year-old driver who is the suspect accused of fleeing from Huber Heights police and causing a fatal crash in Harrison Twp.

Kyndra Shackelford, 18, was booked into jail on aggravated vehicular homicide and another charge, according to jail records. Official charges have not been approved.

Shackelford was mentioned on emergency dispatch traffic as the suspected driver of the stolen car.

Deputies arrested Shackelford at Miami Valley Hospital around 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

This newsroom reported on Shackelford last month when the 18-year-old was arrested for allegedly firing gunshots in to the air during an argument with her sister’s boyfriend.

For details on that story, click here.

FULL REPORT

An unidentified male driver of a SUV is dead and his female passenger is gravely injured after the driver of a stolen car being pursued by Huber Heights police, slammed in to their Chevy Blazer.

At about 1:20 a.m. this morning, Huber Heights dispatch was advised of a gray 2016 Chevrolet Impala that had just been stolen from the Speedway at 6501 Miller Lane.

A Huber Heights officer spotted a vehicle matching the stolen car’s description. The officer also observed the vehicle was crossing the center yellow line, and according to police scanner traffic, the driver was “all over the road.”

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop. The officer followed the vehicle as it approached speeds of 80 miles per hour, according to police scanner traffic.

The vehicle continued south on Rip Rap Road, which becomes Wagner Ford Road.

At the intersection of Wagner Ford and Needmore Roads, the vehicle ran a red light and struck a white 1993 Chevy Blazer, killing the male driver. A female passenger sustained life-threatening injuries.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the stolen Impala was being driven by an 18 year-old female, likely impaired by alcohol. She sustained non-life threatening injuries.

After hitting the Blazer, the driver of the Impala continued through the intersection, and it a street sign and control post for the crosswalk. The Blazer was forced southbound on Wagner Ford and came to rest within the private drive of a business on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Responding deputies and officers from the Huber Heights Police Department removed the injured driver of the Impala after the engine compartment caught fire.

The Huber Heights police department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office are investigating the crash.

Huber Heights police said they will release cruiser camera video Thursday afternoon. We have also asked for the department’s pursuit policy.

We are also waiting for the coroner’s office to release the identity of the deceased driver of the SUV.