Akron,
OH – The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force
arrested fugitive David M. Burkhammer (age 27), at a residence in the 2000
block of 13th Street in Akron, Ohio on October 16, 2008. Burkhammer was
wanted out of West Virginia on numerous charges stemming from a high speed
vehicle chase that occurred in September 2008. Burkhammer was also wanted by
the Summit County Sheriff’s Office for escape, which occurred on March 21,
2008, when he fled a detention facility in Summit County where he was
serving a sentence for felonious assault. At that time he had fled to West
Virginia to avoid arrest until he came across a routine State Police road
check in Clay County, West Virginia. According to Police in West Virginia,
Burkhammer came to a stop at the road check, but before he could produce
identification, he took off at a high rate of speed. Passengers in the
vehicle included his mother-in-law, his pregnant wife, his 5-year-old
daughter and his dog.
As many as 12 police cruisers from three
counties were involved in the chase that continued for approximately 50
miles. After losing control of his vehicle, Burkhammer fled police on foot
and jumped over a guardrail, which took him on a 12-15 foot drop over a rock
ledge, and ultimately shattered his right leg in several places. West
Virginia police allowed Burkhammer to remain out of custody and in a
hospital to get treatment before bringing him in to face his charges. While
in the hospital, Burkhammer again decided to flee and came back to Ohio to
avoid arrest in West Virginia.
Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force
members were able to catch up with Burkhammer yesterday in Akron. Burkhammer
was found hiding in the insulation on the attic level of the residence on
13th Street. Also hiding in the same location was another fugitive, Adam
Webster, wanted on charges of parole violation. Both were apprehended and
transported to the Summit County Jail. Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander
states, “Once again law enforcement working together results in a positive
arrest benefiting the community.”
Burkhammer is facing six felony charges in
West Virginia including two counts each of kidnapping, child neglect,
creating the serious risk of injury and malicious assault on a police
officer. He is also facing a number of misdemeanor charges including 10
counts each of reckless driving and failure to keep right as well as charges
of hit and run, fleeing in a vehicle, driving on a suspended license,
speeding and several other traffic violations.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task
Force Akron Division is composed of the following federal, state, and local
agencies: Akron Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Bath
Township Police Department, Boston Heights Village Police Department, Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Copley Township Police Department, Cuyahoga
Falls Police Department, Kent Police Department, Lakemore Village Police
Department, Norton Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Portage
County Prosecutor’s Office, Reminderville Police Department, Silver Lake
Police Department, Stow Police Department, Summit County Prosecutor’s
Office, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Twinsburg Police Department, U.S.
Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and University of Akron Police
Department. |