BELLEVUE, KY - Mclean Morris, 47, of Bellevue, Kentucky reportedly broke into a liquor store where he allegedly stole two large bottles of Fireball, rapidly drank them both, and fled the scene leading police on a dramatic low-speed chase that closed the I-471 “Big Mac” bridge and spanned state-lines into Ohio.
Reporting from the Cincinnati Enquirer revealed that at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Morris plowed a vehicle into the front of One Stop Liquors, emerged from the vehicle, and took two 1.75-liter bottles of the cinnamon-flavored whiskey and cigarettes, according to Bellevue Police Chief Jon McClain.
Officers responding to the scene were able to identify the man on surveillance video and described him as guzzling the stolen alcohol in the parking lot before speeding off. McClain said this was not the Bellevue PD’s first encounter with Morris allowing officers to readily identify him.
"The department's been dealing with him for years," McClain told reporters.
Police from neighboring jurisdictions Fort Thomas, Dayton, and Newport joined officers from Bellevue and sought Morris at his home, but did not find him there.
Speaking with neighbors, investigators were able to spot Morris still driving the car used in the burglary. According to the outlet, when officers commanded the suspect to exit his vehicle, he responded by ramming a Newport PD cruiser and several civilian vehicles sending officers scrambling for cover. He fled officers again and led them on a chase at “low speeds” toward the I-471 bridge.
According to a news release cited by the Enquirer, “Morris stopped his car at the bridge and shouted profanities at officers for an extended time, leading police to close the bridge.” Anticipating that Morris would attempt to flee again officers placed spike strips under his tires. The suspect did indeed attempt to flee and began another chase into downtown Cincinnati.
Inside the city, Morris encountered Cincinnati Police as well as pursuing Kentucky officers and was stopped and taken into custody.
Authorities said the suspect was driving a stolen vehicle from Cincinnati and is facing charges including burglary, criminal mischief, wanton endangerment, fleeing, and evading from Bellevue Police.
In Hamilton County, Ohio, he is facing stolen property, obstructing official business, and not complying with an officer's orders per court records and remains in Hamilton County custody, pending extradition proceedings in Kentucky.
