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Chelsey R. Vollmer

Age : 32

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 03/30/2021

Location : US-40 & OH-202

City : Huber Heights

County : Montgomery

State : Ohio

Agency : Troy Police Department

Officer(s) :Shane Marker; Sgt. John Marshall; Capt. Zachariah Mumford; Chief Shawn McKinney

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON FOR CHASE: Bystander killed during felony-warrant pursuit
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NARRATIVE:
On 03/30/2021 shortly after 8:00 a.m., Chelsey R. Vollmer, 32, of Dayton was driving to work with her young child secured in the back seat when a Jeep driven by Jalen Alexander, 19, approached the intersection of U.S. 40 and State Route 202 during a high-speed Troy Police Department pursuit.
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Officer Shane Marker had been looking for Alexander, who had outstanding Miami and Greene County warrants. The Miami County warrant arose from an earlier incident in which Alexander was accused of firing a gun at his girlfriend's father. Marker saw a Jeep associated with Alexander leave an Imperial Court residence and followed it before attempting a stop.
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Alexander continued away and Marker pursued for approximately 11 miles. The chase lasted about seven and a half minutes and reached approximately 120 mph. During the pursuit, Alexander crossed center lines, traveled through intersections and nearly struck other vehicles. Marker reported backing off at points during the chase, and Chief Shawn McKinney directed that the pursuit be terminated if it reached traffic in Huber Heights.
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A Miami County sheriff's deputy deployed stop sticks at State Route 202 and Ross Road. Alexander attempted to avoid them, but the Jeep's right-front tire was punctured. Police said the crash occurred too soon afterward for the stop sticks to have substantially deflated the tire.
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Alexander continued toward U.S. 40 and entered the intersection against a red light. His Jeep struck Vollmer's Volkswagen broadside at approximately 108 mph. Vollmer and Alexander were pronounced dead at the scene. Alexander's passenger, Tashaya Tipton, survived. Vollmer's young child also survived and was taken to Dayton Children's Hospital with injuries.
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Neighbors who reached Vollmer's vehicle after the crash heard her child crying and remained with the child until paramedics arrived. The child was alert with a bump and scratches and was later expected to be released from the hospital.
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In January 2023, Marsha Gillespie, administrator of Vollmer's estate, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the City of Troy, Officer Marker, Sgt. John Marshall, Capt. Zachariah Mumford and Chief McKinney. The lawsuit alleged police continued an extraordinarily dangerous pursuit despite speeds exceeding 120 mph, heavy traffic and Alexander's dangerous driving, and alleged the pursuit should have been terminated under department policy. The city and officers denied wrongdoing and asserted statutory immunity.
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The case remained active for years. In 2026, the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's refusal to grant immunity. On 07/02/2026, the appellate court ruled that Marker, Marshall, Mumford, McKinney and the City of Troy were legally immune from damages, finding the evidence insufficient to establish the level of willful, wanton or reckless conduct required to overcome Ohio governmental immunity. The case was remanded for entry of judgment in their favor.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Officer Shane Marker was the Troy officer who initiated and continued the pursuit. Sgt. John Marshall, Capt. Zachariah Mumford and Chief Shawn McKinney were identified as supervisory personnel in the subsequent litigation. Troy had conducted 12 vehicle pursuits during 2020 and terminated six of them for safety reasons. Chief McKinney maintained after Vollmer's death that Marker had complied with the department's pursuit policy.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/wrongful-death-suit-vs-city-of-troy-continues-3-years-after-police-chase-crash/G5EDH7VAEBEW5GDIUI4RB3YS2M/
https://www.daytondailynews.com/crime/teen-driver-with-warrants-flees-troy-police-dayton-mom-killed-in-crash/MABRRF2RUJCD3IBJ4BVXMWJ3MU/
https://www.daytondailynews.com/traffic/medics-respond-after-pursuit-ends-in-crash-at-us-40-and-state-route-202/CLXFFIQJEBCH5KCZCYH5TRXVC4/
https://www.daytondailynews.com/crime/deadly-120-mph-police-chase-troy-man-suspected-of-shooting-at-girlfriends-father/62TETXDSTBA5PDRE7CT55ES2GQ/
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/troy-police-to-hold-press-conference-on-chase-double-fatal-crash-today/YPDCAGL365A3XIXAINTJ4ZKXIU/
https://www.whio.com/news/local/watch-live-troy-police-discuss-deadly-pursuit-that-killed-2-people/C7ULQ2TS2RHIBIUIYXQ6CPWTWM/
https://law.justia.com/cases/ohio/second-district-court-of-appeals/2026/30686.html
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/2/2026/2026-Ohio-2526.pdf