Cincinnati, Ohio – In a major effort to crack down on repeat violent offenders, a coordinated violent crime reduction operation unfolded in downtown Cincinnati on January 12, 2026, leading to multiple arrests and the recovery of stolen firearms. The action-packed night was part of Governor Mike DeWine’s Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, a statewide campaign that unites local, state, and federal law enforcement to reduce violent crime through targeted, intelligence-based enforcement.
Pursuit Leads to Arrests and Stolen Gun Discovery
Around 9:45 p.m., officers with the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) attempted a traffic stop on a Ford Escape in the downtown area. When police activated their emergency lights, the driver of the SUV refused to stop and fled the scene.
Rather than engage in a high-speed chase on the ground, the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s (OSHP) Aviation Unit took to the skies and began tracking the vehicle from above. During the suspect’s erratic flight, the SUV crashed into two separate vehicles. After the second collision, a man later identified as 29-year-old Mykez Smith exited the car and attempted to flee on foot.
Smith didn’t get far. A CPD officer quickly deployed a taser, bringing him into custody. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Madison Stallworth, who remained inside the wrecked SUV, was also arrested at the scene.
The investigation revealed that the SUV had been reported stolen. A search of the vehicle uncovered a stolen handgun, intensifying the charges both suspects now face.
Smith was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on nine charges, including:
-
Driving without a license
-
Reckless operation
-
Having weapons while under disability
-
Receiving stolen property
-
Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle
Stallworth faces seven charges, including:
-
Carrying concealed weapons
-
Receiving stolen property
-
Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle
Second Pursuit Ends in Gun Seizure and More Arrests
That same evening, another chase unfolded when law enforcement spotted a second stolen vehicle around 10:30 p.m. Officers from CPD and OSHP attempted a traffic stop, but the driver again chose to flee. A tire deflation device was deployed, yet the driver continued on.
Once again, the OSHP Aviation Unit tracked the fleeing vehicle until it eventually came to a stop. Two suspects exited the car and tried to run, but were quickly captured. They were identified as 20-year-old Derrick Latham and 18-year-old Demarzah Brown. Authorities found two illegally possessed firearms during the arrest.
Statewide Strategy Targets Repeat Offenders
This high-impact operation is part of Governor DeWine’s broader plan to target repeat violent offenders and reduce the number of illegal firearms on Ohio streets. The Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office all played key roles in last night’s success.
For more details about ongoing operations across the state, the public is encouraged to visit publicsafety.ohio.gov/vci. These partnerships continue to show strong results in stopping violent crime and keeping Ohio communities safer.
