GREEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 55-year-old Fairfield man is facing multiple charges after allegedly driving through a police roadblock on a closed stretch of Interstate 74 and nearly hitting officers and a tow truck driver, according to court documents.

The incident occurred on November 12, when the westbound lanes of I-74 were shut down for a crash investigation. Police say Jonathan Barron drove onto the closed highway despite his license being suspended, according to FOX19.

An affidavit states Barron pulled up to a police roadblock and was ordered to stop but instead continued forward, driving through the active crash scene. Officers say he “almost struck officers and a tow truck driver” as he passed through.

Barron was arrested Monday and held overnight at the Hamilton County Justice Center. He is charged with four counts of failure to comply with police, as well as driving on a closed highway, misconduct at an emergency, reckless operation, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The incident unfolded the same night a marked Green Township police cruiser was hit on the interstate. Investigators say Officer Braden Ruhe, 24, had his cruiser blocking the right lane with emergency lights activated when a 78-year-old driver in a Toyota Corolla failed to move over, striking the cruiser. Both the officer and the driver suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

Alcohol, drugs, and speed are not believed to be factors in that collision, police said.

Anyone with information about the roadblock incident is asked to contact the Green Township Police Traffic Unit at 513-574-0007.

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