Brook Park police arrest man 7 months after he allegedly stole truck and led police on a chase

BROOK PARK, Ohio (WOIO) - Brook Park police arrested a 35-year-old man seven months after he stole a truck and ran from police in a chase that crossed into Cleveland.

Yousif Hamad has been arrested and charged after stealing a truck and taking police on a chase May 9, according to police.

Steve Datko says his white Ford F1-50 was stolen from his driveway.

He didn't know it was gone until police called him.

"I thought it was a joke, I really couldn't believe it, I never experienced anything like it," said Datko.

Brook Park police tried to pull over Hamad, but initiated a chase after Hamad refused to pull over.

The chase ended when Hamad crashed the car on Trowbridge Avenue in Cleveland.

"The vehicle went into a parking lot. He went to go turn around. It kicked sideways and grabbed a telephone pole and fire hydrant," said Datko.

The driver fled on foot.

Datko spent the last seven months not knowing who had stolen his truck.

He told 19 News a Brook Park officer called him Tuesday to tell him they had made an arrest.

Datko says Hamad was someone he doing business with earlier in the year.

"It kind of hurts me a little bit," said Datko. "We treated him very well and we helped him out.

Tried to help him boost his business."

Datko owned DJ's Powersports & Racing Parts & Accessories. Hamad asked to collaborate with Datko for a bike giveaway to promote his own clothing business.

Datko had to shut down his company in Brunswick after the incident.

"It really hurt my business. It's hard," said Datko. "I am trying to rebuild it back up, but most of the money is gone from trying to pay all the bills and moving everything back here and we tried to relocate and it just wasn't going to work out because the name was so damaged."

Datko said owed on the truck and had recently replaced the tires when it happened.

He walks away without a business and a totaled car.

"You want to definitely get to know someone a couple of years, definitely don't jump in a create a business relationship," said Datko.