Zachary Chervenka/Facebook
An Indiana father allegedly took police on a wild chase in neighboring Ohio, with two children in the car. While police in Indiana searched for Zachary Chervenka, 32, on an active warrant, police in Bryan, Ohio, spotted him in an area Walmart. When officers tried to detain Chervenka, he allegedly took off with two young children in the car. He ultimately led police on a high-speed chase.
Chervenka’s vehicle hit speeds of more than 100 miles per hour during the pursuit, according to documents obtained by WPTA. The infant in the vehicle wound up “ejected” from it and was located hours later in freezing temperatures. Somehow, the baby survived, and police ultimately arrested Chervenka and booked him on multiple charges.
Police spotted Chervenka at Walmart.
According to the Bryan Ohio Police Facebook page, officers received information that witnesses saw Chervenka at the Bryan Walmart around 9:30 p.m. on December 1. After confirming his outstanding warrant in Indiana, police tried to contact him.
“During the encounter, Mr. Chervenka entered his vehicle and fled the scene with two children inside,” the press release reads.
Chervenka led police on a high-speed chase.
Police reported that the father got into his vehicle with two children and took off. Court documents show he reportedly reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. He allegedly drove through major intersections without stopping, endangering multiple people. Police chased him for about 15 minutes.
“While officers pursued the vehicle, an infant was ejected from the moving car, although this was not observed by officers at the time. Due to hazardous weather conditions and high speeds, the pursuit was terminated,” police reported.
The infant received serious injuries.
Per WPTA, Chervenka did not stop after his son’s ejection from the car, and the infant remained in freezing temperatures for more than an hour. It is unclear how the ejection occurred, but the Williams County Prosector’s Office said the baby was seriously injured. Emergency crews transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Authorities also found the man’s 5-year-old daughter but did not release information about her condition.
Police arrested Chervenka the following day.
Edgerton police officers arrested Chervenka on December 2, according to WPTA. He faces charges of fleeing law enforcement and two counts of child endangerment.
“The reckless actions of the defendant placed multiple lives, including those juveniles, at significant risk of serious injury or death,” court documents read, per the news outlet.
The father reportedly has an arrest warrant from DeKalb County for obstruction of justice and identity theft, and another one from the county for restraining law enforcement and criminal recklessness, WPTA reported.
The case caused anger online.
Several people commented on the Bryan Ohio Police Department’s Facebook page, wondering how this happened. One asked, “How exactly was the baby ejected? Thrown? I can’t even imagine. How/where did they find the 2nd child?”
Another person commented, “This is definitely on-brand behavior for him, but the fact that one of his kids got hurt during this is sick. No jail time is worth your literal babies safety.”
This person is glad the children survived, writing, “Thank God the baby survived is in fair condition .I pray for the kids I’m so glad the baby must of had angels watching over them the dad should be ashamed the mother I’m not sure about the police [should] not pursue in high speed chase with children involved there is always another time to catch him.”
