A Logan County jury took less than an hour Thursday to find Dustin Wells guilty of failing to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.
Jurors also determined that Wells’ actions during the incident created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to people or property.
During the trial, Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Yohey presented evidence related to a pursuit that occurred shortly after midnight on October 11, 2025.
A Bellefontaine police officer testified that he heard a motorcycle and observed a rider leaving Wrock Bottom Bar before traveling the wrong way down a one-way alley in Bellefontaine on a burnt orange motorcycle.
According to testimony, officers activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the rider, who instead fled at a high rate of speed.
Wells maintained throughout the trial that he was not the person operating the motorcycle.
To support the state’s case, prosecutors introduced testimony from a security guard who placed Wells and the motorcycle at the brewery that night.
Prosecutors also presented an analysis of cellular phone records that they argued linked Wells to the pursuit.
Additional testimony came from Wells’ probation officer, who told jurors that the green hooded sweatshirt worn by the motorcycle rider appeared to be the same sweatshirt Wells had worn during a meeting a few days before the incident.
At the time of the offense, Wells was serving probation for a previous conviction for failing to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, as well as a drug-related offense.
Wells was represented by Bellefontaine attorney Luke Meenach.
