An Athens resident charged with three felony counts after his alleged involvement in a police chase had his preliminary hearing in Athens County Court of Common Pleas yesterday.
Gavin Haynes was charged with fleeing and eluding, vandalism and aggravated burglary after an April 1 incident in which Haynes allegedly broke into a house at 139 W. Washington St. and allegedly assaulted the resident.
Fleeing and eluding is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Aggravated burglary and vandalism are fifth-degree felonies, punishable by up to one year in prison each, said Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren.
Haynes declined representation at the hearing and asked questions of the state's witnesses.
I think I can handle the preliminary by myself
he said.
On April 1, Haynes allegedly left the house on Washington Street and fled police.
Athens Police Officer Ronald Brooks said he followed Haynes to River Side Drive, where Haynes stopped the car twice, waited until Brooks walked up and again began driving. Haynes ran his car into a stack of what appeared to be heating pipes.
Gavin - I recognized him from previous contact - jumped out of the car Brooks said. We later found him hiding underneath a truck in a parking lot.
After putting him in the police car, Brooks said Haynes began kicking the back window, forcing Brooks to open the door before the window was broken.
Haynes also has a previous charge from the Nelsonville Police Department for violating a protection order. He is in the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville.
Evidence in Haynes' case could be presented to grand jury.
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