Accused hit-and-run driver pleads not guilty in fatal bicycle crash
Spencer Remoquillo
LANCASTER — A 44-year-old Lancaster man accused of causing the death of a bicyclist in a hit-and-run crash in June pleaded not guilty to charges on Tuesday.
Jamie K. Gregory's appeared in Common Pleas Magistrate Jillian Boone's courtroom via video camera from the Fairfield County Jail on Tuesday, regarding a series of charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide.
Gregory was reportedly driving north on Welsh Avenue when he allegedly hit 56-year-old Kevin P. Johnson, heading east on West Wheeling Street, in the intersection around 9:30 p.m. June 12. According to the crash report, Gregory did not stop and continued driving on Welsh Avenue. Johnson later died at a Columbus hospital.
Lancaster police received many tips from the community and eventually identified Gregory as the suspected hit-and-run driver, asking for the public's help in locating him. Columbus police later arrested Gregory relating to a warrant on an unrelated misdemeanor probation violation case two weeks later.
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Lancaster Police Dept. Detective Brian Lowe said Gregory had not reported for probation relating to an aggravated menacing and obstructing official business case since August.
A grand jury indicted Gregory on multiple charges Thursday: aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony; leaving the scene, a third-degree felony; vehicular homicide, a fourth-degree felony; and driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor charge.
The grand jury also indicted Gregory on a third-degree felony burglary charge stemming from a June 21 incident. There is a firearm specification connected to the burglary charge, alleging Gregory was in possession of a firearm at the time of the incident.
Gregory's bond amount on the felony case was not addressed on Tuesday because his court-appointed attorney Aaron Conrad said his misdemeanor charges are still pending with court dates scheduled for August.
He remains in the Fairfield County Jail.
sremoquill@gannett.com
Twitter: @SpencerRemo