The 86-Mile Chase

On April 17, 1966, Portage County deputies Dale Spaur and Wilbur Neff chased a luminous disc-shaped object for 86 miles across Ohio and into Pennsylvania—one of the most dramatic police UFO encounters on record.

The Deputies

Initial witnesses:

• Dale Spaur
• Wilbur Neff
• Portage County Sheriff’s Office
• On routine patrol
• Early morning

The Beginning

5:00 AM:

• Investigating abandoned car
• Object rose from ground
• Massive size
• Brilliant illumination
• Began pursuit

The Object

What they saw:

• 40-50 feet diameter
• Disc-shaped
• Brilliant white light
• Humming sound
• Structured craft

The Chase

86-mile pursuit:

• High speeds
• Across Ohio
• Into Pennsylvania
• Multiple jurisdictions
• Eventually lost

Additional Officers

Joining the pursuit:

• Officer Wayne Huston (East Palestine)
• Officer Frank Panzanella (Conway, PA)
• Multiple witnesses
• Corroborating testimony
• Interstate chase

The Performance

Object demonstrated:

• Hovering ability
• High-speed acceleration
• Altitude changes
• Seemed to pace them
• Eventually ascended

Radio Communication

Documented:

• Live radio traffic
• Dispatch recordings
• Real-time pursuit
• Multiple departments
• Official record

Project Blue Book

Air Force response:

• Sent investigators
• Concluded: Venus and satellite
• Deputies disagreed
• Controversial explanation
• Witnesses angry

Dr. J. Allen Hynek

Scientific advisor:

• Investigated personally
• Found witnesses credible
• Called explanation inadequate
• Public disagreement
• Beginning of his change

The Aftermath

For Deputy Spaur:

• Ridicule followed
• Marriage ended
• Left police force
• Life fell apart
• Tragic consequences

Congressional Interest

Ohio congressman:

• William Stanton
• Called for investigation
• Criticized Blue Book
• National attention
• Political involvement

The Witnesses’ Stand

Officers maintained:

• Not Venus
• Not satellite
• Solid object
• Intelligent control
• Truth

Significance

Multi-witness police chase demonstrating the inadequacy of official UFO explanations.

Legacy

The Portage County chase highlighted the conflict between official explanations and trained observer testimony, contributing to Project Blue Book’s eventual closure.