COLUMBUS, Ohio -- More details are being released about a police chase, crash and fatal shooting of a rape suspect Tuesday.
It all started when authorities in Los Angeles discovered a suspect in connection with a series of rapes was travelling between L.A. and Columbus last week.
L.A. officials contacted Columbus police regarding 35-year-old Abram Bynum, who was living in Columbus.
L.A. sheriff's investigators intended to travel to Columbus to obtain a DNA sample from Bynum, but Columbus police were able to retrieve the saliva swab, to which Bynum consented.
Police said the DNA was sent to L.A., where tests allegedly matched Bynum's DNA to five area rapes. Additional evidence, CPD said, allegedly linked the suspect to three other rapes.
Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner said that when the DNA was confirmed, Bynum was suspected in eight rapes consisting of 19 charges in L.A. -- the most serious of which were rape and kidnapping.
"We had a full extradition warrant and were attempting to get him into custody and he was under surveillance at the time we were traveling (to Columbus)," said Detective Timothy O'Quinn of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
The surveillance went awry Tuesday shortly before 4 p.m. when Bynum tried to lose surveillance officers by allegedly running stop signs and traffic lights.
A police pursuit ensued, beginning at Beechwood and Main and ending on Interstate 70 where, police said, Bynum crossed the median and collided head-on with a tanker truck.
L.A. detectives said they were told that after the crash, police approached the suspect and Bynum reached for something and officers fired.
Bynum was pronounced dead at the scene.
Columbus police said that they are investigating whether Bynum committed rapes in Columbus, comparing sexual assaults in both areas.
"The possibility exists that other similar cases may match up to him in either California or Ohio. There are some cases I know Columbus is looking at him," O'Quinn said.
Police said the DNA obtained from Bynum will be entered into a national database to find other possible crimes.
Detectives said the rapes Bynum is suspected of committing were violent and the victims were injured.
Investigators returned to the scene Wednesday morning, closing a lane of I-70 to look for additional evidence.
Officials said Bynum has family living in Central Ohio. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
Late Wednesday afternoon, police released the names of the officers involved in Tuesday's incident. They are:
• Officer James Estepp, a three-year veteran
• Officer Emanuel Edwards, a three-year veteran
• Officer William Edwards, a six-year veteran
• Officer Nathan Amstutz, a two-year veteran
• Officer John O’Donnell, a 20-year veteran
• Michael Yinger, a 17-year veteran
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement