Dayton man involved in kidnapping, double carjacking leads police on pursuit in multiple cities

FRANKLIN TWP. — A Dayton man led police on a chase through multiple cities, carjacking two vehicles and kidnapping two children in the process Saturday morning.

Troopers with the Lebanon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol were working in an airspeed zone on I-75 in Franklin Twp. around 11:36 a.m. when a pilot spotted a 2020 Kia Niro traveling 100 mph.

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The driver of the car, Bryon Finklea Jr., 21, of Dayton fled when officers attempted to pull him over. Finklea exited I-75 southbound and headed westbound toward state Route 63 in the city of Monroe, stated a release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

During the pursuit, Finklea pulled into the parking lot of Monroe’s Kroger where a female passenger, Jonisa Reddick, 21, of Dayton got out of the car.

Finklea fled once again when officers arrived at the Kroger and Reddick was taken into custody.

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While officers continued to pursue the Kia Niro east on state Route 63, the vehicle was disabled near the intersection of Gateway Boulevard, but Finklea exited the vehicle and carjacked a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 36-year-old Josh Morath.

Morath’s two minor children were in the backseat when Finklea stole the vehicle.

The Chevy Malibu came to a stop near US 42 and state Route 63, but only one of the children were able to get out of the vehicle before Finklea took off once more.

The second child was let out of the vehicle in the city of Mason, officers said.

Finklea later crashed on Tylersville Road at Dudley Drive, but that wasn’t the end of the pursuit. He carjacked yet another vehicle, a 2008 Ford Edge, driven by a 16-year-old male.

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Springboro police officers spotted Finklea in the Ford Edge on I-75 north, but ended the pursuit due to the speed and traffic conditions, they said.

The Dayton police department later found the Ford Edge in a residential neighborhood in Dayton.

The Lebanon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident along with the Wilmington District Office of Investigative Services.

We are working to learn if investigators were able to locate Finklea.

Cox Media Group