Two Men in Custody After High-Speed Chase in Westlake; Missing Teen Found Safe
A police pursuit last week culminated in the arrest of two individuals and the safe return of a missing girl.
The incident began around 8:15 p.m. on October 15, when North Olmsted Police alerted nearby agencies about 35-year-old Jeffrey A. Desler, who had fled from officers attempting to serve him a probate order. In the early hours of October 16, Westlake police were notified when a license plate reader detected Desler’s vehicle.
“About two in the morning, we received alerts indicating he was driving on Crocker Road,” said Westlake Police Captain Gerald Vogel.
According to Vogel, Desler fled again when police attempted to pull him over. Officers pursued him through Crocker Park and down Crocker Road, using lights and sirens in an effort to catch him. However, they soon lost sight of the truck. Shortly after, they discovered the vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road with its doors open.
Inside the truck, police found a long gun—specifically an AR-15 type rifle—and another handgun, both of which authorities believe were stolen from Desler’s father’s home.
Not far from the pickup truck, officers located a 35-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl. They reported to police that Desler had been giving them a ride from Downtown Cleveland but refused to let them out in Westlake, claiming he had held them at gunpoint while driving around.
Police later confirmed that other agencies were actively searching for both Desler and the missing girl.
“One of the passengers was a 16-year-old female who had been reported missing and was considered endangered,” Vogel explained. “The other individual was a 36-year-old man with a probation violation warrant for his arrest.”
Multiple agencies conducted a search using drones and foot patrols to locate Desler. He was eventually found hiding nearby with a pistol in his waistband.
Captain Vogel expressed gratitude for the license plate readers and the dedication of his team. “Using technology along with traditional police work really makes a difference, and I think we do it well,” he noted.
The missing 16-year-old girl, who was reported missing from University Heights, was safely reunited with her parents. The 35-year-old man was taken into custody due to outstanding warrants with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority related to previous convictions involving sex offenses with a minor.
Desler now faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, child endangerment, and fleeing from police.
