Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly stole a vehicle, to which a pursuit involving authorities led the North Canton Memorial Stadium to be evacuated during youth football games Saturday.
North Canton Police told newsnet5.com Sunday there has not yet been an arrest made in the incident.
The high school boys’ soccer games were canceled due to the evacuation and pursuit.
North Canton police ordered the evacuation at around 6:30 p.m. after the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported a stolen vehicle had been pursued on Interstate 77 southbound at the Portage exit.
Troopers ended the pursuit due to the amount of traffic in the area and dangerous driving conditions. The vehicle was tracked by OnStar to a parking lot in the area of Taft Avenue northeast and Hower Street northeast behind the old Hoover Company warehouse, which is near North Canton school grounds.
Officers ordered school officials to evacuate school grounds while the situation was being handled.
A state trooper saw a black man, believed to be the suspect driver, wearing a gray shirt and hat in his 20s to 30s running from the parking lot. The car was located in the woods and returned to its owner, authorities said on Sunday.
The North Canton fire department assisted by deploying the city’s drone to provide an aerial view of the scene.
It is unknown if the suspect is armed.
Police are asking that anyone who may have information in identifying the suspect contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 330-433-6200.
