Sep 12, 2017 2 min read

An Ohio man faces charges in three states after he allegedly kidnapped a 1-year-old child Monday night and then led police on a slow-speed chase when they tried to take him into custody after spotting him in Buffalo Township.

The chase ended when Jonathan J. Hawthorne, 36, of St. Clairsville, bailed out of his moving vehicle just after it crossed into West Virginia on Interstate 70, with the child still in the car.

Belmont County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy James Zusack said Hawthorne will be charged with kidnapping for allegedly taking the child from a home in Blaine, a small community in eastern Belmont County. Zusack said he could not release more information until the charges are approved by the prosecutor’s office.

Police in the tri-state area were asked to be on the lookout for Hawthorne after receiving a report he might be suicidal. Donegal Township police spotted him about 10:30 p.m. at a gasoline station on Route 221 in Buffalo Township. Police said Hawthorne fled, getting onto the highway at the Taylorstown interchange, headed west. Donegal police followed him until state police took over and continued to pursue his vehicle at slow speeds because of previous damage to it. Police said he was going only 10 to 20 mph.

Once he crossed into West Virginia, police said Hawthorne got out of his moving vehicle. The vehicle continued on before coming to a stop in a ditch. The child did not appear to be injured, but was taken to Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital as a precaution. Hawthorne was taken into custody by Ohio County sheriff’s deputies.

State police in Pennsylvania plan to charge Hawthorne with endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment and traffic violations. Hawthorne is in West Virginia Northern Regional jail on $100,000 bond on unspecified charges filed in Ohio County. The Ohio County sheriff’s office did not return a telephone call Tuesday.