Officer Rob Barrett's Close Call: Dcember 18, 2017 (CPD Freeway Officer)

Des3 Dangerous incidents involving freeway officers in 3 days December 19, 2017 at 11:04pm Officer Bill Lang was traveling eastbound on I270 at Cleveland Ave. when he saw a vehicle drive up behind him at a high rate of speed, 99MPH in a post 65MPH zone. Officer Lang pulled off to the right shoulder for the vehicle to pass him, instead the vehicle moved behind him. Officer Lang had to quickly accelerate off the shoulder to avoid being stuck. He turned on his lights and sirens but the driver refused to stop. CPD’s helicopter and other officers assisted locating the driver. He, 46-year-old Theodore Craft of Westerville, was later stopped & arrested. Craft was charged with OVI, prior conviction within 20 years under the influence (refusal), driving under suspension, fleeing and speeding. December 18, 2017 at 3:57pm Officer Rob Barrett was stopped with the emergency lights activated on his police cruiser on the right shoulder on 71 South just north of E. 17th waiting for a tow truck for an abandoned vehicle. The driver, 33-year-old Daniel Riddick of Gate, NC, failed to control his vehicle, went off the right side of the road behind the officer, just missing him, striking a traffic sign, then got back on the road. Riddick eventually pulled over. He was charged with failure to control, leaving the scene of an accident, no operator’s license and no seatbelt. December 17, 2017 at 12:45am Officer Don Paden was on the right shoulder of I670 westbound parked behind a disabled vehicle. His emergency lights were activated to alert oncoming traffic. A tow truck driver also got on scene. 48-year-old Marvin Wright drove onto the right shoulder striking the rear of Officer Paden’s vehicle causing a chain reaction of accidents. The tow truck driver was struck by a vehicle injuring his leg. Officer Paden was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Wright was arrested and charged with OVI. cription